Psalm 73:18-19
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The phrase "slippery places" reveals that their prosperity isn't stable, but a precarious height that God deliberately uses to hasten their inevitable, catastrophic downfall. This isn't just about luck; God's hand is in setting them up for such a fall.
Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist has been deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked, questioning God's justice. This verse marks a turning point where he shifts his focus from envying them to understanding their ultimate end. He sees that their success is precarious, like standing on ice, and that God's judgment will inevitably bring their downfall.
Ever looked at someone seemingly “winning” at life and wondered how they got there? The Bible calls their success a 'slippery place'.
The psalmists grapple with a tough question: why do the wicked often prosper? This verse says their success isn't solid ground. Instead, it's a 'slippery place' – a position of prominence that's inherently unstable and dangerous.
The Illusion of Security
Think of it like standing on a patch of ice. It might look like firm ground, but it can give way at any moment. The wicked may enjoy wealth, power, and comfort, but these things don't offer true security. They are precarious, prone to sudden shifts and unexpected disasters.
God's Sovereign Hand
Crucially, the psalm doesn't suggest the wicked chance to be in these unstable positions. The text says, 'Surely you set them...' and 'you make them fall.' This points to God's sovereign hand, even in the downfall of the ungodly. He allows their temporary success, understanding its inherent instability, and ultimately brings their ruin.
The fall from a 'slippery place' isn't a gentle slide; it's a catastrophic crash. What does this tell us about God's justice?
The second half of the verse, 'you make them fall to ruin,' emphasizes the finality and totality of their destruction. This isn't just a minor setback; it's a complete collapse.
Swift and Unexpected End
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Commentaries highlight how the downfall of the wicked is often sudden and unexpected. Like a building collapsing or a dream vanishing upon waking, their prosperous facade crumbles quickly. This swiftness underscores that their success was never truly theirs to keep or control.
A Contrast to True Security
This sudden ruin stands in stark contrast to the enduring security found in God. While the wicked's foundations crumble, those who trust in the Lord find a steadfast hope. The psalm is ultimately building towards this contrast, showing that the perceived advantage of the wicked is a fleeting illusion compared to the eternal reality of God's faithfulness.
Understand the original words
chalaqlaqqowth · Hebrew Noun
A state of moral instability or precariousness, often used metaphorically to describe the vulnerability of the wicked who lack the firm foundation of God's truth.
sho'ah · Hebrew Noun
A state of complete desolation, ruin, or sudden annihilation, often serving as a manifestation of divine judgment against those who oppose God.
shamem · Hebrew Verb
An act of God, a process, or a state of being brought to an end, often implying total loss or catastrophic judgment.
ballahah · Hebrew Noun
A state of intense fear or dread, frequently associated in the Old Testament with the judgment of God or the sudden realization of divine power.
The prosperity of the wicked was a visible, often troubling reality throughout Israel's history, from the early monarchy through exile and the post-exilic era. This psalm wrestles with that enduring paradox, finding resolution not in immediate earthly outcomes but in God's ultimate justice and the spiritual richness of His presence.
c. 1000 BC - 700 BC
Davidic Monarchy and Divided Kingdom
This period saw the rise and division of the Israelite kingdom, marked by periods of prosperity and turmoil, influencing the theological and political landscape in which the Psalms were compiled.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophetic Oracles Against Nations
Prophets like Isaiah and Amos delivered strong condemnations against surrounding nations and even internal corruption, often highlighting the judgment of God upon wickedness and pride.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom (Israel)
The Assyrian conquest and exile of the northern kingdom served as a stark reminder of divine judgment against apostasy and injustice, a theme resonating in psalms dealing with the fate of the wicked.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile profoundly impacted Israel's understanding of divine justice, prosperity, and faithfulness, providing a backdrop for laments and reflections on God's ways.
c. 5th Century BC
Post-Exilic Period and Temple Reconstruction
Following the return from exile, the community faced challenges in rebuilding their lives and the Temple, grappling with questions of God's presence and justice in a restored but still vulnerable nation.
c. 450-400 BC— this verse
Compilation of the Psalter
During this period, various collections of psalms, including those reflecting on the prosperity of the wicked and their eventual downfall, were likely gathered and organized into the Psalter we know today.
This passage speaks of the wicked being led into a slippery path and stumbling, directly echoing the imagery of Psalm 73:18 and highlighting the inevitable downfall of those who stray from God's ways.
Proverbs 1:32This proverb directly contrasts the fate of the simple who are destroyed by their complacency with the security of those who listen to God, reinforcing the idea that prosperity without God's wisdom leads to a ruinous 'slippery place'.
Psalm 37:35-36This passage describes a wicked person flourishing like a green tree only to vanish, being cut down and gone, which powerfully illustrates the swift and sudden destruction that comes upon those who seem to be in 'slippery places'.
Matthew 7:26-27Jesus' parable of the foolish man building his house on sand provides a clear New Testament parallel to the 'slippery places' of Psalm 73, showing how foundations without Christ lead to inevitable ruin when storms come.
jfbPsalms 73:18: "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction."
18-20. their end—future (Ps 37:37, 38), which is dismal and terribly sudden (Pr 1:27; 29:1), aggravated and hastened by terror. As one despises an unsubstantial dream, so God, waking up to judgment (Ps 7:6; 44:23), despises their vain shadow of happiness (Ps 39:6; Isa 29:7). They are thrown into ruins as a building falling to pieces (Ps 74:3).
clarkePsalms 73:18: "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction."
Thou didst set them on slippery places - Affluence is a slippery path; few have ever walked in it without falling. It is possible to be faithful in the unrighteous mammon, but it is very difficult. No man should desire riches; for they bring with them so many cares and temptations as to be almost unmanageabe. Rich men, even when pious, are seldom happy; they do not enjoy the consolations of…
The phrase "slippery places" reveals that their prosperity isn't stable, but a precarious height that God deliberately uses to hasten their inevitable, catastrophic downfall. This isn't just about luck; God's hand is in setting them up for such a fall.
The psalmist has been deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked, questioning God's justice. This verse marks a turning point where he shifts his focus from envying them to understanding their ultimate end. He sees that their success is precarious, like standing on ice, and that God's judgment will inevitably bring their downfall.
The psalmist has been deeply troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked, questioning God's justice. This verse marks a turning point where he shifts his focus from envying them to understanding their ultimate end. He sees that their success is precarious, like standing on ice, and that God's judgment will inevitably bring their downfall.
"Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!" — The phrase "slippery places" reveals that their prosperity isn't stable, but a precarious height that God deliberately uses to hasten their inevitable, catastrophic downfall. This isn't just about lu…
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Last reviewed October 2026
