John Calvin Commentary Psalms 73:7

"Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish." — Psalms 73:7 (ASV)

Their eye goes out for fatness. He now adds that it is not surprising to see the ungodly breaking out with such violence and cruelty, since, because of fatness and pampering, their eyes are ready to start out of their heads. Some explain the words goes out as meaning that their eyes, being covered and hidden with fat, were, so to speak, lost, and could not be perceived in their sockets.

But as fat causes the eyes to project from the head, I prefer retaining the proper meaning of the words. However, let it be observed that David is not to be understood as speaking of the physical appearance, but as expressing metaphorically the pride with which the ungodly are inflated because of the abundance they possess.

They so glut and intoxicate themselves with their prosperity that afterwards they are ready to burst with pride. The last clause of the verse is also explained in two ways. Some think that by the verb עבר, abar, which we have translated passed beyond, is denoted unbridled presumption; for the ungodly are not content to keep themselves within ordinary bounds, but in their wild and extravagant projects mount above the clouds.

We know, in fact, that they often deliberate with themselves how they may take possession of the whole world; indeed, they would wish God to create new worlds for them. In short, being altogether insatiable, they pass beyond heaven and earth in their wild and unbounded desires. It would certainly not be inappropriate to explain the verb as meaning that their foolish thoughts can be regulated by no law, nor kept within any bounds.

But there is another exposition which is also very suitable, namely, that the prosperity and success they meet with exceed all the flattering prospects they had pictured in their imaginations. We certainly see some of them who obtain more than ever they had desired, as if, while they were asleep, Fortune laid nets and fished for them—the image under which King Demetrius was in ancient times cleverly depicted, who had taken so many cities, although otherwise he was neither skillful nor vigilant, nor of great foresight.

If we are inclined to take this view of the words, this clause will be added by way of exposition, to teach us what is meant by that fatness, spoken of before—that it means that God heaps upon the wicked and fills them with an abundance of all good things, beyond what they had ever either desired or thought of.