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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Psalm 68:2 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/psalms/68-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/19_Psa_068_002.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Psalm 68:2 - God's Enemies Are Scattered" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/psalms/68-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/psalms/68-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/psalms/">Psalms</a> > <a href="/psalms/68.htm">Chapter 68</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad2.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/psalms/68-1.htm" title="Psalm 68:1">◄</a> Psalm 68:2 <a href="/psalms/68-3.htm" title="Psalm 68:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/psalms/68.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/psalms/68.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/psalms/68.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/psalms/68.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/psalms/68.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/psalms/68.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away: as wax melteth before the fire, <i>so</i> let the wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/psalms/68.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, So drive <i>them</i> away; As wax melts before the fire, <i>So</i> let the wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/psalms/68.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away; As wax melts before a fire, <i>So</i> the wicked will perish before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/psalms/68.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/psalms/68.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away; As wax melts before the fire, <i>So</i> let the wicked perish before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/psalms/68.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, <i>so</i> drive <i>them</i> away; As wax melts before the fire, <i>So</i> let the wicked perish before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/psalms/68.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so drive <i>them</i> away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked <i>and</i> guilty perish before [the presence of] God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/psalms/68.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is blown away, so you blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/psalms/68.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is blown away, so You blow them away. As wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/psalms/68.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/psalms/68.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Scatter them like smoke! When you come near, make them melt like wax in a fire. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/psalms/68.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/psalms/68.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Blow them away like smoke. Let wicked people melt in God's presence like wax next to a fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/psalms/68.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />As smoke is blown away, so he drives them off; as wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in God's presence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/psalms/68.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so you drive them away. As wax melts in the presence of fire, so the wicked die in the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/psalms/68.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/psalms/68.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/psalms/68.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/psalms/68.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/psalms/68.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so drive them away. As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/psalms/68.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />You drive them away as the driving away of smoke, "" As the melting of wax before fire, "" The wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/psalms/68.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As the driving away of smoke Thou drivest away, As the melting of wax before fire, The wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/psalms/68.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />As smoke being dispersed thou wilt disperse: as wax melting from the face of fire, the unjust shall perish from the face of God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/psalms/68.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/psalms/68.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br /><V 67:3>Just as smoke vanishes, so may they vanish. Just as wax flows away before the face of fire, so may sinners pass away before the face of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/psalms/68.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />As the smoke is dispersed, disperse them; as wax is melted by fire, so may the wicked perish before God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/psalms/68.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/psalms/68.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />As smoke is driven away, so let them vanish; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/psalms/68.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And they will vanish like smoke vanishes, and as wax is melted before fire, the wicked shall be destroyed from before God.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/psalms/68.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/psalms/68.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />As smoke vanishes, let them vanish: as wax melts before the fire, so let the sinners perish from before God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/psalms/68-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nFaD2oDhKPc?start=7841" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/psalms/68.htm">God's Enemies Are Scattered</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6227.htm" title="6227: ‘ā·šān (N-ms) -- Smoke. From ashan; smoke, literally or figuratively.">As smoke</a> <a href="/hebrew/5086.htm" title="5086: kə·hin·dōp̄ (Prep-k:: V-Nifal-Inf) -- To drive, drive asunder. A primitive root; to shove asunder, i.e. Disperse.">is blown away,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5086.htm" title="5086: tin·dōp̄ (V-Qal-Imperf-2ms) -- To drive, drive asunder. A primitive root; to shove asunder, i.e. Disperse.">You will drive them out;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1749.htm" title="1749: dō·w·naḡ (N-ms) -- Wax (as melting). Of uncertain derivation; wax; -wax.">as wax</a> <a href="/hebrew/4549.htm" title="4549: kə·him·mês (Prep-k:: V-Nifal-Inf) -- To dissolve, melt. A primitive root; to liquefy; figuratively, to waste, to faint.">melts</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mip·pə·nê- (Prep-m:: N-mpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/784.htm" title="784: ’êš (N-cs) -- A fire. A primitive word; fire.">the fire,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7563.htm" title="7563: rə·šā·‘îm (Adj-mp) -- Wicked, criminal. From rasha'; morally wrong; concretely, an bad person.">the wicked</a> <a href="/hebrew/6.htm" title="6: yō·ḇə·ḏū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To perish. A primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. Lose oneself; by implication to perish.">will perish</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: mip·pə·nê (Prep-m:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">in the presence</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hîm (N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of God.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-2.htm">Isaiah 64:2</a></span><br />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!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nahum/1-5.htm">Nahum 1:5-6</a></span><br />The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers. / Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-1.htm">Malachi 4:1</a></span><br />“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/37-38.htm">Psalm 37:38</a></span><br />But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/1-4.htm">Psalm 1:4</a></span><br />Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/21-18.htm">Job 21:18</a></span><br />Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-3.htm">Hosea 13:3</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/41-11.htm">Isaiah 41:11-12</a></span><br />Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish. / You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/17-13.htm">Isaiah 17:13</a></span><br />The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-12.htm">Matthew 3:12</a></span><br />His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-40.htm">Matthew 13:40-42</a></span><br />As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. / The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-17.htm">Luke 3:17</a></span><br />His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-7.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:7-9</a></span><br />and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/10-27.htm">Hebrews 10:27</a></span><br />but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.</p><p class="hdg">As smoke</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/37-20.htm">Psalm 37:20</a></b></br> But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD <i>shall be</i> as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/9-18.htm">Isaiah 9:18</a></b></br> For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up <i>like</i> the lifting up of smoke.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/13-3.htm">Hosea 13:3</a></b></br> Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff <i>that</i> is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.</p><p class="hdg">as wax</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5</a></b></br> The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/64-2.htm">Isaiah 64:2</a></b></br> As <i>when</i> the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, <i>that</i> the nations may tremble at thy presence!</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/1-4.htm">Micah 1:4</a></b></br> And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, <i>and</i> as the waters <i>that are</i> poured down a steep place.</p><p class="hdg">in the presence</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/76-7.htm">Psalm 76:7</a></b></br> Thou, <i>even</i> thou, <i>art</i> to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/80-16.htm">Psalm 80:16</a></b></br> <i>It is</i> burned with fire, <i>it is</i> cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nahum/1-5.htm">Nahum 1:5,6</a></b></br> The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/psalms/39-10.htm">Blow</a> <a href="/job/41-20.htm">Blown</a> <a href="/psalms/44-2.htm">Drive</a> <a href="/psalms/40-14.htm">Driven</a> <a href="/matthew/8-31.htm">Drivest</a> <a href="/psalms/66-12.htm">Driving</a> <a href="/psalms/65-7.htm">End</a> <a href="/psalms/66-12.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Melteth</a> <a href="/job/6-16.htm">Melting</a> <a href="/psalms/58-8.htm">Melts</a> <a href="/psalms/49-20.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/psalms/61-7.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/psalms/66-15.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/psalms/65-10.htm">Soft</a> <a href="/psalms/50-17.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/psalms/46-6.htm">Wax</a> <a href="/psalms/64-2.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/58-9.htm">Wind</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/78-26.htm">Blow</a> <a href="/isaiah/18-3.htm">Blown</a> <a href="/psalms/80-8.htm">Drive</a> <a href="/psalms/109-10.htm">Driven</a> <a href="/matthew/8-31.htm">Drivest</a> <a href="/psalms/78-26.htm">Driving</a> <a href="/psalms/68-30.htm">End</a> <a href="/psalms/69-9.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/psalms/107-26.htm">Melteth</a> <a href="/isaiah/64-2.htm">Melting</a> <a href="/psalms/107-26.htm">Melts</a> <a href="/psalms/71-13.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/psalms/68-8.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/psalms/74-1.htm">Smoke</a> <a href="/psalms/69-2.htm">Soft</a> <a href="/psalms/78-17.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/psalms/97-5.htm">Wax</a> <a href="/psalms/71-4.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/psalms/78-26.htm">Wind</a><div class="vheading2">Psalm 68</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/68-1.htm">A prayer at the removing of the ark</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/68-4.htm">An exhortation to praise God for his mercies</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/68-7.htm">for his care of the church</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/psalms/68-19.htm">for his great works</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In biblical times, smoke was often associated with destruction and judgment, as seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (<a href="/genesis/19-28.htm">Genesis 19:28</a>). The imagery suggests that just as smoke cannot withstand the wind, the wicked cannot withstand God's judgment. This aligns with the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and power over His creation, as seen in <a href="/job/37-21.htm">Job 37:21-22</a>, where God's presence is likened to the wind dispersing clouds.<p><b>You will drive them out</b><br>This phrase indicates God's active role in removing the wicked from His presence. The concept of God driving out enemies is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Israelites entering the Promised Land (<a href="/exodus/23-28.htm">Exodus 23:28-30</a>). It reflects God's promise to protect and deliver His people from their adversaries. The driving out of the wicked can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the final judgment, where God will separate the righteous from the wicked (<a href="/matthew/25-31.htm">Matthew 25:31-46</a>).<p><b>as wax melts before the fire</b><br>The melting of wax before fire illustrates the complete and inevitable destruction of the wicked in the face of God's holiness. Wax, when exposed to heat, loses its form and substance, symbolizing the powerlessness of the wicked against divine judgment. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages that describe God's presence as a consuming fire (<a href="/deuteronomy/4-24.htm">Deuteronomy 4:24</a>, <a href="/hebrews/12-29.htm">Hebrews 12:29</a>). The melting wax can also be seen as a metaphor for the transformative power of God's presence, which purifies and refines.<p><b>the wicked will perish in the presence of God</b><br>This phrase underscores the ultimate fate of the wicked, who cannot endure the holiness and justice of God. The presence of God is often depicted as a place of both blessing and judgment. For the righteous, it is a source of joy and protection (<a href="/psalms/16-11.htm">Psalm 16:11</a>), but for the wicked, it is a place of destruction. This duality is evident in the prophetic literature, where the Day of the Lord is described as both a day of salvation and judgment (<a href="/joel/2-31.htm">Joel 2:31-32</a>). The perishing of the wicked in God's presence also points to the eschatological hope of a new creation where sin and evil are no more (<a href="/revelation/21-8.htm">Revelation 21:8</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, God is depicted as a powerful force against the wicked, driving them out and causing them to perish.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wicked.htm">The Wicked</a></b><br>Those who oppose God and His righteousness, symbolized as smoke and wax, which are transient and easily destroyed.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/smoke_and_wax.htm">Smoke and Wax</a></b><br>Metaphors used to describe the temporary and fragile nature of the wicked in the face of God's power.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/presence_of_god.htm">Presence of God</a></b><br>The divine presence that causes the wicked to perish, emphasizing God's holiness and justice.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_transience_of_wickedness.htm">The Transience of Wickedness</a></b><br>Just as smoke and wax are temporary, so is the power and influence of the wicked. Believers should take comfort in the fact that evil will not prevail.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_god's_presence.htm">The Power of God's Presence</a></b><br>God's presence is transformative and purifying. As believers, we should seek to live in His presence, allowing His holiness to refine us.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_certainty_of_divine_justice.htm">The Certainty of Divine Justice</a></b><br>God's justice is sure and will be executed in His perfect timing. We should trust in His righteous judgment and not take vengeance into our own hands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_righteously.htm">Living Righteously</a></b><br>In light of the fate of the wicked, believers are called to pursue righteousness and align their lives with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_god's_deliverance.htm">Hope in God's Deliverance</a></b><br>This verse assures us of God's deliverance from evil. We can have hope and confidence in His ability to protect and save us.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_psalm_68.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 68</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/if_god_is_everywhere,_how_is_hell_godless.htm">If God is omnipresent, how can Hell be a place where God is absent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_'vanishing_like_smoke'_plausible.htm">Psalm 68:1-2: How can the defeat of enemies described as 'vanishing like smoke' be understood in light of historical or scientific plausibility?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_psalm_18_7-15's_events.htm">How can the cosmic upheavals in Psalm 18:7-15 be reconciled with the lack of historical or scientific evidence for such events?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_psalm_68_17_conflict_with_history.htm">Psalm 68:17: Does claiming 'tens of thousands' of divine chariots conflict with known historical or archeological data concerning ancient warfare?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/68.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">Smoke.</span>--The figure of the vanishing smoke has occurred before (see <a href="/psalms/37-20.htm" title="But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.">Psalm 37:20</a>); for that of the melting wax see <a href="/psalms/97-5.htm" title="The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.">Psalm 97:5</a>. Both figures are too obvious to need reference to the cloud and fire of the ancient encampment.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/68.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">As smoke is driven away, so drive them away.</span> As clouds of smoke are dispersed and driven away by the wind, and totally disappear, so let God, whenever his enemies congregate, scatter and disperse them, and reduce them to nothingness. <span class="cmt_word">As wax melteth before the firs, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.</span> As smoke vanishes, so wax entirely melts away and disappears before a hot fire (comp. <a href="/psalms/22-14.htm">Psalm 22:14</a>; <a href="/psalms/97-5.htm">Psalm 97:5</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/psalms/68-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">As smoke</span><br /><span class="heb">עָשָׁ֗ן</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·šān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6227.htm">Strong's 6227: </a> </span><span class="str2">Smoke</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is blown away,</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּהִנְדֹּ֥ף</span> <span class="translit">(kə·hin·dōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5086.htm">Strong's 5086: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shove asunder, disperse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">You will drive [them] out;</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּ֫נְדֹּ֥ף</span> <span class="translit">(tin·dōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5086.htm">Strong's 5086: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shove asunder, disperse</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as wax</span><br /><span class="heb">דּ֭וֹנַג</span> <span class="translit">(dō·w·naḡ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1749.htm">Strong's 1749: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wax (as melting)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">melts</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּהִמֵּ֣ס</span> <span class="translit">(kə·him·mês)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4549.htm">Strong's 4549: </a> </span><span class="str2">To liquefy, to waste, to faint</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">מִפְּנֵי־</span> <span class="translit">(mip·pə·nê-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the fire,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֑שׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’êš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_784.htm">Strong's 784: </a> </span><span class="str2">A fire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the wicked</span><br /><span class="heb">רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים</span> <span class="translit">(rə·šā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7563.htm">Strong's 7563: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wrong, an, bad person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will perish</span><br /><span class="heb">יֹאבְד֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yō·ḇə·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6.htm">Strong's 6: </a> </span><span class="str2">To wander away, lose oneself, to perish</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the presence</span><br /><span class="heb">מִפְּנֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(mip·pə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of God.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/psalms/68-2.htm">Psalm 68:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/psalms/68-2.htm">OT Poetry: Psalm 68:2 As smoke is driven away so drive (Psalm Ps Psa.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/psalms/68-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Psalm 68:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Psalm 68:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/psalms/68-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Psalm 68:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Psalm 68:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>