Psalm 68:2

Translations

Modern

As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Traditional

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Literal

As smoke is driven away, you will drive them away; like the melting of wax from the face of the fire, the wicked will perish before the face of God.

Latin

Sicut deficit fumus, deficiant; sicut fluit cera a facie ignis, sic pereant peccatores a facie Dei.

Original

Hebrew

English

As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God.

Notes

Psalms 68:2

Both smoke and wax represent a temporary existence (Psalms 22:12–18; 37:20; 102:3).

Psalms 68:1–3

These verses form a prayer for God to rise and scatter his enemies, like when Israel entered the promised land (compare Numbers 10:35–36; Joshua 6–12).

Psalms 68:1–35

This prayer for God's victorious rule describes God's journey from Sinai to Zion (Psalm 68:7, 16–18, 24). He saved Israel from Egypt, led them through the wilderness, brought them to the promised land, and established his kingdom. He is a caring and victorious God, whose nature does not change. Therefore, the faithful hope and rejoice in the promise of God's universal rule.

Theme notes and profiles

David

Related verses

Micah 1:4
The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.
Psalm 37:20
But the wicked and enemies of the LORD will perish like the glory of the fields. They will vanish; like smoke they will fade away.
Hosea 13:3
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.
Revelation 6:16–17
And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
Psalm 97:5
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
Isaiah 9:18
For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke.
Psalm 80:16
Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
Isaiah 64:2
…as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!
Nahum 1:5–6
The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.
Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
Psalm 76:7
You alone are to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?
2 Thessalonians 1:8–9
…in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

Glossary

Book of Exodus David God, Names of Judges, Book of Mount Sinai Music Psalms, Book of

Topics

Fire: Melting Prayer: Imprecatory The Wicked are Compared to Melting Wax Wax: General Scriptures Concerning Wicked (People): Compared With: Melting Wax Wicked (People): Punishment of

Psalm 68:2

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