Psalms 73:21

21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.

Psalms 73:21 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:21

Thus my heart was grieved
Not with his own sins, nor with the sins of the wicked, but at their prosperity; for this is an account of himself, while under the temptation, and before he went into the sanctuary of the Lord; or when he was "leavened" F18, with the old leaven of wickedness, and envy, and indignation; he was in a ferment, so Plautus F19 uses the phrase for being in anger and wrath; he swelled, as what is leavened does, against God and his providence: or was "soured" F20; he was out of humour and angry with God, or was exasperated and provoked at the favours bestowed upon the wicked. Some render it "inflamed" F21, made hot; not with the love of God, and meditation upon it, but with wrath and indignation:

and I was pricked in my reins;
disturbed and distracted in his thoughts, felt a great deal of pain in his mind, while he was considering the prosperity of the wicked; which was as a sword in his bones, and as an arrow shot into his reins; see ( Lamentations 3:13 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Umxty) "effervesceret fermenti instar", Tigurine version; "in fermento esset", Cocceius; so Ainsworth.
F19 Casina, Act. 2. Sc. 5. v. 17.
F20 Acescet Montanus; "quasi aceto acri perfundebatur", Vatablus.
F21 "Inflammatum est", V. L.

Psalms 73:21 In-Context

19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.