If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
Parallel translations
- WEB If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
- KJV If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
- ESV If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of 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 quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- Mal 2:8But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Ps 24:6Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah
- Rom 14:15If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died.
- Rom 14:21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.
- 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Ps 14:5There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.
- Ps 22:30Posterity will serve Him; they will declare the Lord to a new generation.
- 1 Sam 2:24No, my sons; it is not a good report I hear circulating among the LORD’s people.
- 1 Cor 8:11–13So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.
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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