Focused Passage

Psalms 73:13-17

Nearness to God When the Wicked Prosper and the Heart Nearly Slips

Psalm 73 moves from a firm confession of God's goodness, through a near-collapse caused by envy of the wicked, into a sanctuary-shaped turning point where the wicked's end is understood, then into humble confession and renewed satisfaction in God as the believer's strength, portion, refuge, and final good.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 15:58Classic cross-references Psalms 58:11Classic cross-references Job 21:15Classic cross-references Psalms 26:6Classic cross-references Job 34:9Classic cross-references

Original words

Surelyאַךְ־H389Adverbin vainרִ֭יקH7385Noun - masculine singularI have kept my heart pureזִכִּ֣יתִיH2135Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular. . .לְבָבִ֑יH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin innocenceבְּנִקָּי֣וֹןH5356Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularI have washedוָאֶרְחַ֖ץH7364Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularmy handsכַּפָּֽי׃H3709Noun - feminine dual construct | first person common singular

Verse 14

Cross-references

Hebrews 12:8Classic cross-references Hebrews 12:5Classic cross-references Psalms 88:15Classic cross-references Psalms 94:12Classic cross-references Ruth 1:20Classic cross-references

Original words

For I amוָאֱהִ֣יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularafflictedנָ֭גוּעַH5060Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularall day longכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הַיּ֑וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularand punished every morningוְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗יH8433Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular. . .לַבְּקָרִֽים׃H1242Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural

Verse 15

Cross-references

1 Peter 2:9Classic cross-references Psalms 14:5Classic cross-references Malachi 2:8Classic cross-references Matthew 18:6Classic cross-references Psalms 24:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Ifאִם־H518ConjunctionI had saidאָ֭מַרְתִּיH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularI will speakאֲסַפְּרָ֥הH5608Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularthis wayכְמ֑וֹH3644Prepositionthenהִנֵּ֤הH2009InterjectionI would have betrayedבָגָֽדְתִּי׃H898Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularvvvד֭וֹרH1755Noun - masculine singular constructYour childrenבָּנֶ֣יךָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Habakkuk 2:1Classic cross-references Acts 8:31Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 8:17Classic cross-references Job 24:1Classic cross-references

Original words

When I triedוָֽ֭אֲחַשְּׁבָהH2803Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularto understandלָדַ֣עַתH3045Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructall thisזֹ֑אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singularitהִיאH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularwas troublesomeעָמָ֖לH5999Noun - masculine singularin my sightבְעֵינָֽי׃H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | first person common singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 32:35Classic cross-references Psalms 77:13Classic cross-references Luke 12:20Classic cross-references Psalms 37:2Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 8:12Classic cross-references

Original words

untilעַד־H5704PrepositionI enteredאָ֭בוֹאH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular. . .אֶל־H413PrepositionGod’sאֵ֑לH410Noun - masculine singularsanctuaryמִקְדְּשֵׁי־H4720Noun - masculine plural constructthen I discernedאָ֝בִ֗ינָהH995Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singulartheir endלְאַחֲרִיתָֽם׃H319Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural

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