They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Parallel translations
- WEB They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
- BSB They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
- ESV They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
- NKJV They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.
- NASB They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.
- NLT They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
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
They scoff and speak with malice, arrogantly threatening to oppress others.
Overview
The wicked use their words to mock, to wound, and to menace the weak. Their speech reveals hearts hardened by pride. This portrait of arrogant, oppressive talk stands in sharp contrast to the humble and the pure in heart whom God blesses, and underscores why God's judgment is just.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Jude 1:16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
- Ps 17:10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
- Ps 10:2The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
- Ps 10:10–11He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
- Ps 12:4–5Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
- Ps 53:1–4The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
- 2 Pet 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
- Prov 30:13–14There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
- Jer 7:9–11Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;
- 2 Pet 2:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
- 1 Kgs 21:7–29And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
- 1 Sam 13:19Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:
- Exod 1:9–10And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
- Hos 7:16They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
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 73:8 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.