If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Parallel translations
- WEB If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
- BSB If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your 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 whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- Mal 2:8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Ps 24:6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
- Rom 14:15But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
- Rom 14:21It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Ps 14:5There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
- Ps 22:30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
- 1 Sam 2:24Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD’s people to transgress.
- 1 Cor 8:11–13And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.