Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Psalms 73:6
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain, &.] Which was the sin of the devils, and of our first parents, and of Sodom, and is the sin of antichrist; and which, of all sins, is most hateful to God; this arises from, at least is increased by, outward prosperity. Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked; pride and fulness of bread went together in Sodom; and, where it is predominant, it binds as a chain; such who are under the power of it are slaves unto it, they are chained and fettered by it, and it possesses them wholly; it shows itself in the several members of their bodies, in their eyes and feet, their walk and gait, and in their conduct and behaviour, and in the several actions of their lives, and is rightly called “the pride of life”; or rather they bind it about themselves as a chain, fancying it to be an ornament to them, what sets them off, and makes them look great in the eyes of others; whereas the reverse is what is of great price, and in high esteem with God and good men; namely, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit: violence covereth them as a garment; wicked men that are prosperous and proud are generally oppressive to others; and are very often open in their acts of violence, which are as openly done and to be seen of all men, as the clothes upon their backs; and frequently the clothes they wear are got by rapine and oppression, so that they may properly be called garments of violence; (see <235906>Isaiah 59:6). Ver. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness, etc.] Or their face, the eyes being put for the whole face; so the Targum, “their face is changed, because of fatness;” (see <181527>Job 15:27), otherwise through fatness the eyes are almost enclosed: or “it goes forth out of the fatness of their eyes” f1019; that is, either “pride”, which shows itself in haughty looks and scornful airs, through the abundance possessed; or “violence”, seen in the fierceness of the eyes, and fury of the countenance; or “their eyes go out through fatness” f1020 that is, through the plenty they enjoy, their eyes go out in lust after lawful objects: they have more than heart could wish; that they themselves could have wished for heretofore, though not now; for what is it that a worldly covetous heart cannot and does not wish for? if it had all the world, it would not satisfy it: or “the imaginations of the heart go on” f1021; that is, after more, not being content with such things as they have; or “they”, i.e. their pride and violence, exceed the imaginations of the heart f1022; they are more than can be conceived of, they overpass the deeds of the wicked, (<240528>Jeremiah 5:28) or “they transgress by the imaginations of the heart” f1023; which are evil, and that continually.
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