Psalm 73:8
New International Version
They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

New Living Translation
They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

English Standard Version
They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.

Berean Standard Bible
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

King James Bible
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

New King James Version
They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.

New American Standard Bible
They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

NASB 1995
They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

NASB 1977
They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

Legacy Standard Bible
They scoff and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

Amplified Bible
They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak loftily [with malice].

Christian Standard Bible
They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.

American Standard Version
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

Contemporary English Version
They sneer and say cruel things, and because of their pride, they make violent threats.

English Revised Version
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: they speak loftily.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They ridicule. They speak maliciously. They speak arrogantly about oppression.

Good News Translation
They laugh at other people and speak of evil things; they are proud and make plans to oppress others.

International Standard Version
In their mockery they speak evil; from their arrogant position they speak oppression.

Majority Standard Bible
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

NET Bible
They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence.

New Heart English Bible
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

Webster's Bible Translation
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

World English Bible
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They do corruptly, "" And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, "" They speak from on high.

Young's Literal Translation
They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.

Smith's Literal Translation
They will mock and speak in evil of oppression: they will speak from elevation.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.

Catholic Public Domain Version
They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.

New American Bible
They scoff and spout their malice; from on high they utter threats.

New Revised Standard Version
They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They imagine and speak evil things: they talk unjustly against the most High.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They have conceived and have spoken evil and oppression; they have spoken against The Highest.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; They speak as if there were none on high.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Endow the King with Your Justice
7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild. 8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. 9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.…

Cross References
Proverbs 21:24
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.

James 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Isaiah 14:13-14
You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

2 Peter 2:18
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

Proverbs 6:12-14
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, / winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. / With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

Matthew 12:34-37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...

Isaiah 3:9
The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

Romans 3:13-14
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” / “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Jude 1:16
These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

Isaiah 10:12-14
So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes. / For he says: ‘By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, for I am clever. I have removed the boundaries of nations and plundered their treasures; like a mighty one I subdued their rulers. / My hand reached as into a nest to seize the wealth of the nations. Like one gathering abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth. No wing fluttered, no beak opened or chirped.’”

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

1 Timothy 6:4-5
he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, / and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

Isaiah 37:23-24
Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! / Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my many chariots I have ascended to the heights of the mountains, to the remote peaks of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the finest of its cypresses. I have reached its farthest heights, the densest of its forests.


Treasury of Scripture

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

corrupt

Psalm 53:1-4
To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good…

Proverbs 30:13,14
There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up…

speak wickedly

Psalm 10:2,10,11
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined…

Psalm 12:4,5
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? …

Exodus 1:9,10
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: …

speak loftily

2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Jude 1:16
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Jump to Previous
Acts Arrogance Corrupt Corruptly Cruel Deep Designs Evil High Loftily Malice Mock Oppression Power Scoff Seats Speak Talk Thoughts Threaten Utter Wickedly Wickedness
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Acts Arrogance Corrupt Corruptly Cruel Deep Designs Evil High Loftily Malice Mock Oppression Power Scoff Seats Speak Talk Thoughts Threaten Utter Wickedly Wickedness
Psalm 73
1. The prophet, prevailing in a temptation
2. Shows the occasion thereof, the prosperity of the wicked
13. The wound given thereby, diffidence
15. The victory over it, knowledge of God's purpose.














They mock and speak with malice;
This phrase highlights the behavior of the wicked, who are characterized by their scornful and malicious speech. In biblical context, mockery is often associated with those who reject God's wisdom and authority (Proverbs 1:22). The Psalms frequently contrast the righteous, who speak truth and wisdom, with the wicked, whose words are harmful and deceitful (Psalm 12:2-4). The use of "malice" indicates a deep-seated intent to harm others, reflecting a heart that is far from God (Matthew 15:19). This behavior is reminiscent of the enemies of Israel who often taunted and ridiculed God's people (Nehemiah 4:1-3).

with arrogance they threaten oppression.
Arrogance in the Bible is often linked to pride, which is considered a grave sin because it elevates oneself above others and, ultimately, above God (Proverbs 16:18). The wicked's arrogance leads them to believe they are untouchable and can oppress others without consequence. This reflects a common theme in Scripture where the powerful exploit the weak, a situation God consistently condemns (Isaiah 10:1-2). The threat of oppression is not just physical but can also be social and economic, as seen in the practices of unjust rulers and corrupt leaders throughout Israel's history (Amos 8:4-6). This behavior is antithetical to the character of Christ, who embodies humility and justice (Philippians 2:5-8).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 73, Asaph was a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court. He is known for his deep reflections on the prosperity of the wicked and the struggles of the righteous.

2. The Wicked
In this Psalm, the wicked are those who live in defiance of God, often prospering in their arrogance and malice.

3. The Sanctuary of God
A pivotal place in the Psalm where Asaph gains understanding and perspective on the fate of the wicked and the justice of God.
Teaching Points
Understanding Arrogance and Malice
The Hebrew root for "mock" (la'ag) and "malice" (ra') indicates a deep-seated contempt and evil intent. Recognizing these traits helps us identify and guard against similar attitudes in our own hearts.

The Consequences of Pride
Arrogance leads to oppression and ultimately to downfall. As Christians, we are called to humility, understanding that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Responding to Oppression
When faced with threats or oppression, our response should be rooted in faith and trust in God's justice, as Asaph eventually realizes in the sanctuary.

The Importance of Perspective
Asaph's journey in Psalm 73 teaches us the importance of seeking God's perspective, especially when we are troubled by the apparent success of the wicked.

Living with Integrity
Despite the prosperity of the wicked, we are called to live with integrity, trusting that God sees and will ultimately judge all actions.(8) They are corrupt . . .--This, which is the Rabbinical rendering, is now universally abandoned in favour of another derivation of the verb. The Masoretic arrangement of the clauses may be also improved on:

"They scoff and speak of wickedness,

Of violence from their eminence they speak,"

where the first clause means, they speak mockingly of wickedness, or make a jest of sin.

Verse 8. - They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily; rather, they scoff, and speak wickedly; of oppression do they speak from heaven's height; i.e. "they scoff at the righteous, and speak wickedly concerning them; they talk of the oppressive acts which they meditate, as though they were Divine beings, speaking from the heavenly height" (Cheyne).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They mock
יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ (yā·mî·qū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4167: To jeer, blaspheme

and speak
וִידַבְּר֣וּ (wî·ḏab·bə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

with malice;
בְרָ֣ע (ḇə·rā‘)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

with arrogance
מִמָּר֥וֹם (mim·mā·rō·wm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4791: Altitude

they threaten
יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

oppression.
עֹ֑שֶׁק (‘ō·šeq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6233: Injury, fraud, distress, unjust gain


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OT Poetry: Psalm 73:8 They scoff and speak with malice (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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