Focused Passage

Psalms 73:4-12

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

4They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

5They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 4

Original words

-כִּ֤יH3588ConjunctionThey have noאֵ֖יןH369Adverbstruggleחַרְצֻבּ֥וֹתH2784Noun - feminine pluralin their deathלְמוֹתָ֗םH4194Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluraltheir bodiesאוּלָֽם׃H193Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralare well-fedוּבָרִ֥יאH1277Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

They are freeאֵינֵ֑מוֹH369Adverb | third person masculine pluralof the burdensבַּעֲמַ֣לH5999Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructothers {carry}אֱנ֣וֹשׁH582Noun - masculine singularthey are notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleafflictedיְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃H5060Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine plurallikeוְעִם־H5973Conjunctive waw | Preposition[other] menאָ֝דָ֗םH120Noun - masculine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Thereforeלָ֭כֵןH3651Adverbprideגַאֲוָ֑הH1346Noun - feminine singularis their necklaceעֲנָקַ֣תְמוֹH6059Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singulara garmentשִׁ֝֗יתH7897Noun - masculine singular constructof violenceחָמָ֥סH2555Noun - masculine singularcoversיַעֲטָף־H5848Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthemלָֽמוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 7

Original words

From their prosperityמֵחֵ֣לֶבH2459Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularproceedsיָ֭צָאH3318Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singulariniquityעֵינֵ֑מוֹH5869Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine pluralthe imaginationsמַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹתH4906Noun - feminine plural constructof their heartsלֵבָֽב׃H3824Noun - masculine singularrun wildעָ֝בְר֗וּH5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural

BSB notes

  • Literally Their eye bulges with fatness; Syriac From their callous heart proceeds iniquity
Verse 8

Original words

They mockיָמִ֤יקוּ׀H4167Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland speakוִידַבְּר֣וּH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralwith maliceבְרָ֣עH7451Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singularwith arroganceמִמָּר֥וֹםH4791Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularthey threatenיְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃H1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraloppressionעֹ֑שֶׁקH6233Noun - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

They setשַׁתּ֣וּH8371Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluraltheir mouthsפִּיהֶ֑םH6310Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralagainst the heavensבַשָּׁמַ֣יִםH8064Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluraland their tonguesוּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗םH3956Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine pluralstrutתִּֽהֲלַ֥ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularacross the earthבָּאָֽרֶץ׃H776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Soלָכֵ֤ן׀H3651Adverbtheir peopleעַמּ֣וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularreturnיָשִׁיבH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto this placeהֲלֹ֑םH1988Adverband drink upיִמָּ֥צוּH4680Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralwatersוּמֵ֥יH4325Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructin abundanceמָ֝לֵ֗אH4392Adjective - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or His people
Verse 11

Original words

The wicked sayוְֽאָמְר֗וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralHowאֵיכָ֥הH349Interjectioncan Godאֵ֑לH410Noun - masculine singular. . .וְיֵ֖שׁH3426Conjunctive waw | Adverbknowיָדַֽע־H3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularDoes the Most Highבְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃H5945Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singularhave knowledgeדֵּעָ֣הH1844Noun - feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Beholdהִנֵּה־H2009Interjectionthese [are]אֵ֥לֶּהH428Pronoun - common pluralthe wickedרְשָׁעִ֑יםH7563Adjective - masculine pluralalwaysע֝וֹלָ֗םH5769Noun - masculine singularcarefreeוְשַׁלְוֵ֥יH7961Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural constructas they increaseהִשְׂגּוּ־H7685Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluraltheir wealthחָֽיִל׃H2428Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.