Psalms 75:4
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I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Though this psalm is attributed to Asaph in the title, yet it does so exactly agree with David's circumstances, at his coming to the crown after the death of Saul, that most interpreters apply it to that juncture, and suppose that either Asaph penned it, in the person of David, as his poet-laureat (probably the substance of the psalm was some speech which David made to a convention of the states, at his accession to the government, and Asaph turned it into verse, and published it in a poem, for the better spreading of it among the people), or that David penned it, and delivered it to Asaph as precentor of the temple. In this psalm, I. David returns God thanks for bringing him to the throne (Psa 75:1, Psa 75:9). II. He promises to lay out himself for the public good, in the use of the power God had given him (Psa 75:2, Psa 75:3, Psa 75:10). III. He checks the insolence of those that opposed his coming to the throne (Psa 75:4, Psa 75:5). IV. He fetches a reason for all this from God's sovereign dominion in the affairs of the children of men (Psa 75:6-8). In singing this psalm we must give to God the glory of all the revolutions of states and kingdoms, believing that they are all according to his counsel and that he will make them all to work for the good of his church. To the chief musician, Al-taschith. A psalm or song of Asaph.
Open source ↗75:4-5 The wicked arrogantly defy the heavens—the dwelling place of God. Through their boasting they insist that they are wiser than God.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“What are these coming to do?” I asked. And He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so that no one could raise his head; but the craftsmen have come to terrify them and throw down these horns of the nations that have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.
He has raised up a horn for His people, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!
Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”