Psalms 73:6-16

6 (72-6) Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 (72-7) Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 (72-8) They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 (72-9) They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 (72-10) Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 (72-11) And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 (72-12) Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 (72-13) And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 (72-14) And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 (72-15) If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 (72-16) I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:

Psalms 73:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 73

\\<>\\. It seems by the title that Asaph was the penman of this psalm, as it is certain that he was a composer of psalms and hymns; see 2Ch 29:30, though it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph", or "unto Asaph" {a}; and might have David for its author, as some think, who, having penned it, sent it to Asaph, to be made use of by him in public service; see 1Ch 16:7, and so the Targum paraphrases it, ``a song by the hands of Asaph;'' the occasion of it was a temptation the psalmist fell into, through the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, to think there was nothing in religion, that it was a vain and useless thing; under which he continued until he went into the house of God, and was taught better; when he acknowledged his stupidity and folly, and penned this psalm, to prevent others falling into the same snare, and to set forth the goodness of God to his people, with which it begins.

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