Psalm 73 (NASB2020)
BOOK 3
Psalm 73
The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1God certainly is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps 73:2 Lit were caused to sliphad almost slipped.
3For I was envious of the 73:3 Or boastersarrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.
5They are not 73:5 Lit in the trouble of peoplein trouble like other people,
Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.
6Therefore arrogance is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7Their eye 73:7 Lit goes forthbulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.
8They mock and 73:8 Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppressionwickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9They have set their mouth 73:9 Or inagainst the heavens,
And their tongue 73:9 Lit walksparades through the earth.
10¶Therefore 73:10 Or Hishis people return here,
And abundant waters are drunk by them.
11They say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge 73:11 Lit inwith the Most High?”
12Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13Surely in vain I have 73:13 Or cleansed my heartkept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
14For I have been stricken all day long,
And 73:14 Lit my punishmentpunished every morning.
15¶If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16When I thought of understanding this,
It was 73:16 Lit labor, troubletroublesome in my sight
17Until I entered the 73:17 Lit sanctuariessanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18You indeed put them on slippery ground;
You dropped them into 73:18 Or deceptionruin.
19How they are 73:19 Lit become a desolationdestroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
20Like a dream when one awakes,
Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.
21¶When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced 73:21 Lit in my kidneyswithin,
22Then I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like an animal 73:22 Lit with Youbefore You.
23Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24You will guide me with Your plan,
And afterward receive me 73:24 Or with honorto glory.
25¶Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the 73:26 Lit rockstrength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who 73:27 Lit go to a whoring fromare unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord 73:28 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod my refuge,
So that I may tell of all Your works.
Understand Psalm 73
Walk through Psalm 73 verse by verse, then read what three commentaries say about the chapter. The explanations are written for new readers.
Read the Psalm 73 commentary