Psalms 73 · Verse 9

Psalms 73:9

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Psalms 73:9, King James Version

Psalms 73:9 in other translations

BSBThey set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
WEBThey have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
ASVThey have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.
YLTThey have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.
DARBYThey set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
BBETheir mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
WebsterThey set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

What does Psalms 73:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 73:3-9

3-9. The prosperous wicked are insolently proud (compare Psa 5:5). They die, as well as live, free from perplexities: pride adorns them, and violence is their clothing; indeed they are inflated with unexpected success. With all this--

Read the full comment on Psalms 73:3-9 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Set their mouth against the heavens - They blaspheme God, ridicule religion, mock at Providence, and laugh at a future state. Their tongue walketh through the earth - They find fault with every thing; they traduce the memory of the just in heaven, and ridicule the saints that are upon earth. They criticize every dispensation of God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 73:1-14

The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he resolved to abide. It is the goodness of God. This is a truth which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify against Satan's temptations. The faith even of strong believers may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are…

Read the full comment on Psalms 73:1-14 →

Psalms 73:9 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.

שַׁתּ֣וּsha.Tuthey setH8371
בַשָּׁמַ֣יִםva.sha.Ma.yimin the heavensH8064
פִּיהֶ֑םpi.Hemmouth theirH6310
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗םu.le.sho.Namand tongue theirH3956
תִּֽהֲלַ֥ךְti.ha.Lakhit walksH1980
בָּאָֽרֶץ\׃ba.'A.retzon the earthH776

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

Cross references for Psalms 73:9

  • Revelation 13:6

    And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

  • James 3:6

    And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

  • Exodus 5:2

    And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

  • Daniel 7:25

    And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

  • 2 Chronicles 32:15

    Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?

  • Daniel 3:15

    Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

  • Luke 18:4

    And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

  • Job 21:14

    Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

  • Psalms 52:4

    Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
set.
Ex 5:2; 2Ch 32:15; Job 21:14; Da 3:15; 7:25; Re 13:6
tongue.
52:4; Lu 18:4; Jas 3:6

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

Context

  • Psalms 73:8

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

  • Psalms 73:9

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

  • Psalms 73:10

    Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

Read all of Psalms 73

Psalms 73:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ponen en el cielo su boca, y su lengua pasea la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils placent leur bouche dans les cieux, et leur langue se promène sur la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie setzen in den Himmel ihren Mund, und ihre Zunge wandelt auf der Erde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Signa nostra non vidimus; jam non est propheta; et nos non cognoscet amplius.