Psalm 73:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.

NIV: Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.

NASB: They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

CSB: They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.

NLT: They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

KJV: They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

NKJV: They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.

The prosperous wicked of Asaph's day (Psalm 73:1–3) had the ability to influence many people, and this was a power they abused to speak against God. Or, to contradict God's truth without fearing consequences. As with sins of arrogance (Psalm 73:6) and hateful ridicule (Psalm 73:8), the power of influence and speaking against God are common traits to see when a godless person finds success. Psalm 2 predicts that in the end time the wicked kings and rulers of the earth will be described by this kind of attitude. They will speak arrogantly against the Lord and His Anointed, and they will plan to overthrow them. Verse 3 quotes them as saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us" (Psalm 2:3).

It has often been characteristic of ungodly, powerful men to insult the Lord and boast about their accomplishments. Although they think they are in control of their own lives, they are wrong. They perform the will of the Devil. Jesus told a group of vain religious leaders: "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires" (John 8:44). During the tribulation period, before Jesus returns to rule the earth, evil leadership will serve the Devil by opposing the Lord and His people (Revelation 13).

Psalm 73:1–9 depicts a struggle which resonates with Christians in many eras of history. Asaph almost abandoned his faith in God because he envied the prosperous wicked. He describes them as healthy, wealthy, proud, violent, and profane. Job 21 includes a similar description of the wicked. The wording here is meant to be somewhat exaggerated, reflecting the painful perspective of godly people who suffer. The following verses discuss how the same problems lead others to question God, and how Asaph ultimately resolves his doubts and confirms his faith.

Seeing godless people thrive, even as they hatefully mock God, while believers suffer, leads many people to a crisis of faith. This was the case for Asaph. Using exaggerated imagery, he complains to the Lord that it seems as if evil people have easy lives, while godly people suffer. Further reflection reminds Asaph that sin does lead to consequences, both in this life and the next. He confesses his sins of bitterness and resolves to trust God more deeply.

This psalm is the first in a collection which corresponds to Leviticus and the overall theme of worship. Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, confesses that seeing prosperity among wicked people brought him bitterness and envy. That nearly caused him to lose trust in God. Carefully considering God and His eternal truth led Asaph to a stronger faith. Job chapter 21, in which trial-laden Job also complains about the success of some wicked people, mentions many of the same ideas as Psalm 73.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.