Psalm 73:4

4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

Psalm 73:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death
Nothing that binds and straitens them, afflicts and distresses them; they have no pain of mind nor of body, but die at once, suddenly, in a moment, wholly at ease and quiet, without any bitterness of soul; see ( Job 21:13 Job 21:23 Job 21:25 ) , or "there are no bands until their death" ^F6; they have no straits nor difficulties all their life long, no distempers nor diseases which may be called "bonds", ( Luke 13:12 Luke 13:13 Luke 13:16 ) , till they come to die: the Vulgate Latin version is, "there is no respect to their death"; they take no notice of it, they have no care or concern about it; or, as the Targum,

``they are not terrified nor troubled because of the day of their death;''

they put it away far from them, and think nothing about it: but their strength is firm; they are hale and robust, healthful and sound, to the day of their death; their strength is not weakened in the way by diseases and distempers. Some take the word rendered "strength" to signify a porch or palace, and translate it, they are strong as a palace, or in a palace, or their palace is strong ^F7 their houses are well built, and continue long.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Mtwml) "usque ad mortem eorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F7 (Mlwa) "palatium vel sicut palatium"; so some in Piscator; "porticus", Schmidt; so R. Jonah, Arama, and Jerom.

Psalm 73:4 In-Context

2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.