Psalms 73 · Verse 18

Psalms 73:18

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Psalms 73:18, King James Version

Psalms 73:18 in other translations

BSBSurely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
WEBSurely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
ASVSurely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.
YLTOnly, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.
DARBYTruly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
BBEYou put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
WebsterSurely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.

What does Psalms 73:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 73:18-20
18-20. their end--future (Psa 37:37, 38), which is dismal and terribly sudden (Pr 1:27; 29:1), aggravated and hastened by terror. As one despises an unsubstantial dream, so God, waking up to judgment (Psa 7:6; 44:23), despises their vain shadow of happiness (Psa 39:6; Is 29:7). They are thrown into ruins as a building falling to pieces (Psa 74:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Thou didst set them on slippery places - Affluence is a slippery path; few have ever walked in it without falling. It is possible to be faithful in the unrighteous mammon, but it is very difficult. No man should desire riches; for they bring with them so many cares and temptations as to be almost unmanageabe. Rich men, even when pious, are seldom happy; they do not enjoy the consolations of religion. A good man, possessed of very extensive estates, unblamable in his whole deportment, once said to me: "There must be some strange malignity in riches thus to keep me in continual bondage, and deprive me of the consolations of the Gospel." Perhaps to a person to whom his estates are a snare, the words of our Lord may be literally applicable: "Sell what thou hast, and give to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up thy cross, and follow me." But he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions! May we not then say with the psalmist, Surely thou digest set them in slippery places, etc.?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 73:15-20

The psalmist having shown the progress of his temptation, shows how faith and grace prevailed. He kept up respect for God's people, and with that he restrained himself from speaking what he had thought amiss. It is a sign that we repent of the evil thoughts of the heart, if we suppress them. Nothing gives more offence to God's children, than to say it is vain to serve God; for there is nothing more contrary to their…

Read the full comment on Psalms 73:15-20 →

Psalms 73:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַ֣ךְ'akhsurelyH389
בַּ֭חֲלָקוֹתBa.cha.la.koton slippery [places]H2513
תָּשִׁ֣יתta.Shityou setH7896
לָ֑מוֹla.mo<to> them
הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗םhi.pal.Tamyou make fall themH5307
לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת\׃le.ma.shu.'otto deceptionsH4876

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 73:18

  • Jeremiah 23:12

    Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 35:6

    Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35

    To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

  • Psalms 55:23

    But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:9

    Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

  • Psalms 94:23

    And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

  • Psalms 37:35-38

    I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

  • Psalms 37:20

    But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

  • Psalms 92:7

    When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

  • Psalms 37:24

    Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Surely.
35:6; De 32:35; Jer 23:12
thou castedst.
37:20,24,35-38; 55:23; 92:7; 94:23; 2Th 1:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 73:17

    Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

  • Psalms 73:18

    Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

  • Psalms 73:19

    How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Read all of Psalms 73

Psalms 73:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ciertamente los has puesto en deslizaderos; en asolamientos los harás caer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Certainement tu les places en des lieux glissants, tu les fais tomber en ruines.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Fürwahr, auf schlüpfrige Örter setzest du sie, stürzest sie hin zu Trümmern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Memor esto hujus: inimicus improperavit Domino, et populus insipiens incitavit nomen tuum.