Psalms 73:21

21 For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,

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 How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended -- consumed from terrors.
20 As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.
21 For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,
22 And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.
23 And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.