Psalms 73:13-23

13 Surely 1in vain I have kept my heart pure And 2washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken 3all day long And 4chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have betrayed the 5generation of Your children.
16 When I 6pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the 7sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their 8end.
18 Surely You set them in 9slippery places; You cast them down to 10destruction.
19 How they are 11destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by 12sudden terrors!
20 Like a 13dream when one awakes, O Lord, when 14aroused, You will 15despise their form.
21 When my 16heart was embittered And I was 17pierced within,
22 Then I was 18senseless and ignorant *; I was like a 19beast before You.
23 Nevertheless 20I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

Psalms 73:13-23 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 20

Footnotes 10

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