Psalm 91:8

Psalm 91:8

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

a. NLT: Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.

b. NIV: You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

c. Amplified Bible:  Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

d. Septuagint [Listed under Psalm 90:8]: Only with thine eyes shalt thou observe and see the reward of sinners.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: You will merely peer with your eyes and you will see the retribution of the wicked. 

1. “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see…”

a. eye [5869 * ‘ayin] [Strong: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape):--affliction, outward appearance, + before, + think best, colour, conceit, + be content, countenance, + displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, + favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), X him, + humble, knowledge, look, (+ well), X me, open(-ly), + (not) please, presence, + regard, resemblance, sight, X thee, X them, + think, X us, well, X you(-rselves).]

b. behold [5027 * nabat] [Strong: a primitive root; to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care:--(cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see.]

c. see [7200 * ra’ah] [Strong: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

2. “…the reward of the wicked.”

a. reward [8011 * shillumah] [Strong: feminine of 7966; retribution:--recompense.]

b. wicked [7563 * rasha’] [Strong: from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.]

c. As I have said before, some Jewish Commentary is wonderful and some is ridiculous. Here is a sample of the ridiculous.

1). Tehillim: Commentary from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic Sources: Only a person who is delivered from danger because of his own merit is accorded the privilege of witnessing the downfall of his enemies. If he was saved only because of the merits of others [like Lot, who was saved from Sodom because of Abraham], the man is forbidden to witness the suffering that he, too, deserved to share (olelos Yehudah). [See comm. 118:7.]

d. In light of the New Testament we can compare the reward of the wicked with the “wages of sin” in Romans 6:23 which we all deserved. The Old and New Testaments both bare witness that man cannot merit his own salvation. It is only through the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus that we are saved.

1). Isaiah 53:1-12 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and theLord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

53:10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

2). Romans 5:6-10 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

3). 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.