Psalms 73 · Verse 20

Psalms 73:20

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Psalms 73:20, King James Version

Psalms 73:20 in other translations

BSBLike one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
WEBAs a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
ASVAs a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
YLTAs a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.
DARBYAs a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
BBEAs a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
WebsterAs a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

What does Psalms 73:20 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).

Read the full comment on Psalms 73:18-20 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 As a dream when one awaketh - So their goods fled away. Their possession was a dream - their privation, real. Thou shalt despise their image - While destitute of true religion, whatever appearance they had of greatness, nobility, honor, and happiness; yet in the sight of God they had no more than the ghost or shade of excellence which God is said here to despise. Who would be rich at such risk and dishonor?

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 73:20 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.

כַּחֲל֥וֹםka.cha.Lomlike a dreamH2472
מֵהָקִ֑יץme.ha.Kitzfrom when awakesH6974
אֲ֝דֹנָי'A.do.naiO LordH136
בָּעִ֤יר\׀ba.'Irwhen wakenH5782
צַלְמָ֬םtzal.Mamimage theirH6754
תִּבְזֶֽה\׃tiv.Zehyou will despiseH959

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

Cross references for Psalms 73:20

  • Job 20:8

    He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

  • Psalms 78:65

    Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

  • Psalms 90:5

    Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

  • Psalms 39:6

    Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

  • Isaiah 29:7-8

    And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision. It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

  • Psalms 7:6

    Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
As a.
90:5; Job 20:8; Isa 29:7,8
when.
7:6; 78:65
their.
39:6

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

Context

  • Psalms 73:19

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

  • Psalms 73:20

    As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

  • Psalms 73:21

    Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Read all of Psalms 73

Psalms 73:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Como sueño del que despierta, así, Señor, cuando despertares, menospreciarás sus apariencias.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Comme un songe, quand on s’éveille, tu mépriseras, Seigneur, leur image, lorsque tu t’éveilleras.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wie einen Traum nach dem Erwachen wirst du, Herr, beim Aufwachen ihr Bild verachten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respice in testamentum tuum, quia repleti sunt qui obscurati sunt terræ domibus iniquitatum.