Psalms 90:11

11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.

Psalms 90:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
ESV
11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?
NLT
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve.
MSG
11 Who can make sense of such rage, such anger against the very ones who fear you?
CSB
11 Who understands the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear that is due You.

Psalms 90:11 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 90:11

Who knoweth the power of thine anger?
&c.] Expressed in his judgments on men: as the drowning of the old world, the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the consumption of the Israelites in the wilderness; or in shortening the days of men, and bringing them to the dust of death; or by inflicting punishment on men after death; they are few that take notice of this, and consider it well, or look into the causes of it, the sins of men: such as are in hell experimentally know it; but men on earth, very few closely attend to it, or rarely think of it:

even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath;
or who knows thy wrath, so as to fear thee? who considers it so, as that it has such an influence upon him to fear the Lord, and stand in awe of him, and fear to offend him, and seek to please him? or rather the wrath of God is answerable to men's fear of him; and that, in some things and cases, men's fears exceed the things feared; as afflictions viewed beforehand, and death itself: the fears of them are oftentimes greater, and more distressing, than they themselves, when they come; but so it is not with the wrath of God; the greatest fears, and the most dreadful apprehensions of it, do not come up to it; it is full as great as they fear it is, and more so.

Psalms 90:11 In-Context

9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.

Cross References 2

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