If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
Parallel translations
- KJV If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
- BSB If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
- NKJV If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
- NASB ¶If I had said, “I will speak this way,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
- NLT If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
He realizes that to speak openly of his doubts as settled truth would have betrayed God's faithful children.
Overview
Asaph checks himself, recognizing his responsibility to fellow believers. Voicing his envy as settled conviction would have wounded the faith of God's people. This restraint shows wise concern for the community of faith and marks the beginning of his recovery from despair.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 18:6–7but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
- Mal 2:8But you have turned aside out of the way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Ps 24:6This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face — even Jacob. Selah.
- Rom 14:15Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
- Rom 14:21It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
- Ps 14:5There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.
- Ps 22:30Posterity shall serve him. Future generations shall be told about the Lord.
- 1 Sam 2:24No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear! You make Yahweh’s people disobey.
- 1 Cor 8:11–13And through your knowledge, he who is weak perishes, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 73:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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