Psalms 73:1-7

BOOK 3

1

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

1 Surely God is 1 good to Israel, To those who are 2 pure in heart!
2 But as for me, 3my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.
3 For I was 4envious of the arrogant As I saw the 5prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.
5 They are 6not in trouble as other men, Nor are they 7plagued like mankind.
6 Therefore pride is 8their necklace; The 9garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye bulges from 10fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.

Psalms 73:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 73

\\<>\\. It seems by the title that Asaph was the penman of this psalm, as it is certain that he was a composer of psalms and hymns; see 2Ch 29:30, though it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph", or "unto Asaph" {a}; and might have David for its author, as some think, who, having penned it, sent it to Asaph, to be made use of by him in public service; see 1Ch 16:7, and so the Targum paraphrases it, ``a song by the hands of Asaph;'' the occasion of it was a temptation the psalmist fell into, through the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, to think there was nothing in religion, that it was a vain and useless thing; under which he continued until he went into the house of God, and was taught better; when he acknowledged his stupidity and folly, and penned this psalm, to prevent others falling into the same snare, and to set forth the goodness of God to his people, with which it begins.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Psalms 86:5
  • 2. Psalms 24:4; Psalms 51:10; Matthew 5:8
  • 3. Psalms 94:18
  • 4. Psalms 37:1; Proverbs 23:17
  • 5. Job 21:7; Psalms 37:7; Jeremiah 12:1
  • 6. Job 21:9; Psalms 73:12
  • 7. Psalms 73:14
  • 8. Genesis 41:42; Proverbs 1:9
  • 9. Psalms 109:18
  • 10. Job 15:27; Psalms 17:10; Jeremiah 5:28

Footnotes 8

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