Psalms 73

BOOK III

1

Psalms 73–89

1

A psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b] ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Images for Psalms 73

Cross References 44

  • 1. S Psalms 24:4; Matthew 5:8
  • 2. S Deuteronomy 32:35
  • 3. Psalms 69:2; Ephesians 4:27
  • 4. Psalms 37:1; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1-2
  • 5. S Job 9:24; S Job 21:7; Jeremiah 12:1; Malachi 3:15
  • 6. Job 21:9; ver 12; Ezekiel 23:42
  • 7. S Leviticus 26:19
  • 8. S Genesis 41:42; Song of Songs 4:9; Ezekiel 16:11
  • 9. S Genesis 6:11; S Proverbs 4:17; Psalms 109:18
  • 10. S Psalms 17:10
  • 11. Psalms 41:5; Ezekiel 25:15; Colossians 3:8
  • 12. Psalms 17:10; Jude 16
  • 13. S Psalms 10:7; S Psalms 12:5
  • 14. S ver 5
  • 15. S Psalms 49:6
  • 16. S Job 9:29-31; S Job 21:15; Job 34:9
  • 17. S Genesis 44:16; Psalms 26:6
  • 18. ver 5
  • 19. Ecclesiastes 8:17
  • 20. Exodus 15:17; Psalms 15:1; Psalms 77:13
  • 21. S Job 8:13; Philippians 3:19; Psalms 37:38
  • 22. S Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalms 35:6
  • 23. S Psalms 17:13
  • 24. Deuteronomy 28:20; Proverbs 24:22; Isaiah 47:11
  • 25. S Genesis 19:15
  • 26. S Job 20:8
  • 27. Psalms 78:65; Isaiah 29:8
  • 28. Proverbs 12:11; Proverbs 28:19
  • 29. Psalms 49:10; Psalms 92:6; Psalms 94:8
  • 30. Ecclesiastes 9:12,20">Ps 4Ecclesiastes 9:12,20; Ecclesiastes 3:18; Ecclesiastes 9:12
  • 31. S Genesis 48:13
  • 32. S Psalms 48:14
  • 33. S 1 Kings 22:5; Psalms 32:8
  • 34. Psalms 16:2
  • 35. Philippians 3:8
  • 36. Psalms 84:2
  • 37. S Psalms 31:10; Psalms 40:12
  • 38. Psalms 18:1
  • 39. S Deuteronomy 32:9
  • 40. S Psalms 34:21; Psalms 119:155
  • 41. S Leviticus 6:2; Jeremiah 5:11; Hosea 4:12; Hosea 9:1
  • 42. Zephaniah 3:2; Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8
  • 43. Psalms 9:9
  • 44. Psalms 26:7; Psalms 40:5

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text "struggles at their death;" / "their bodies are healthy"
  • [b]. Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew "Their eyes bulge with fat"
  • [c]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

Psalms 73 Commentaries

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