Psalms 73:19
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Study Note
Study Note
The sudden reversal described in 'how are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors' marks the theological turning point of Psalm 73 — the asaph's crisis of faith resolved when he entered the sanctuary and 'understood their end' (73:17). The contrast between the lengthy meditation on the wicked's prosperity (73:4-12) and the instantaneous nature of their ruin ('as in a moment') embodies the psalm's fundamental insight: temporal appearances deceive, and only a sub specie aeternitatis perspective from within divine presence yields accurate moral judgment. The verse forms the literary counterpart to 73:3's envy-of-the-prosperous as the theological answer to that envy. Psalm 73 is often considered the spiritual and theological heart of Book III of the Psalter, addressing theodicy most directly.
Other Translations
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended--consumed from terrors.
How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
Cross References
Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and …
It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are …
When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall …
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.