Psalm 73:21

21 When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized [with envy],

Psalm 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 ) .

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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.

Psalm 73:21 In-Context

19 They are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away by terror!

20 As [someone] gets rid of a dream when he wakes up, so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them when you wake up.

21 When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized [with envy],

22 I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence.

23 Yet, I am always with you. You hold on to my right hand.