The Strength of My Heart
Psalm 73 summary: what it means
Psalm 73 is an honest account of nearly losing faith. It opens by stating that God is good to the pure in heart, then admits the writer almost slipped. The cause was envy. He watched arrogant, violent people prosper without struggle, mock God and grow rich, while his own clean hands seemed to earn him only daily trouble. Trying to make sense of it was too painful for him.
The turning point is verse 17. He entered God's sanctuary and considered their end. From there the wicked appear on slippery ground and vanish like a dream. He calls his earlier bitterness senseless, and finds that God held his hand all along. Near the end, verse 26 says that though flesh and heart fail, God is his strength and portion forever.
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Psalm 73: The Strength of My Heart
World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-73
Psalm 73 commentary: explained verse by verse
Surely God is good to Israel,to those who are pure in heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
The psalm opens with its conclusion. God is good to Israel and to the pure in heart. Everything that follows explains how the writer came back to that belief.
Also read Romans 2:28-29, Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 24:4, Romans 9:6-7
But as for me, my feet were almost gone.My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Straight after the statement comes an admission. His feet were almost gone and his steps had nearly slipped, a picture of losing footing on a path.
Also read Job 21:4, Psalm 38:16, Psalm 17:15, 1 Chronicles 22:7
For I was envious of the arrogant,when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
The cause is named plainly: envy. He was envious of the arrogant when he saw the wicked prosper, and verses 4 to 12 describe their comfortable lives in detail.
Also read Job 21:7, James 4:5, Proverbs 23:17, Proverbs 24:1
For there are no struggles in their death,but their strength is firm.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
Also read Psalm 17:10, Job 24:20, Luke 16:22, Psalm 17:14
They are free from burdens of men,neither are they plagued like other men.
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
Also read Job 21:6, Proverbs 3:11-12, Psalm 73:12, Revelation 3:19
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.Violence covers them like a garment.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Also read Proverbs 4:17, Psalm 109:29, Psalm 109:18, Judges 8:26
Their eyes bulge with fat.Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Also read 1 Samuel 25:2, Psalm 73:12, Jeremiah 5:28, Psalm 119:70
They scoff and speak with malice.In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Also read Psalm 10:10-11, 1 Samuel 13:19, Jeremiah 7:9-11, Psalm 53:1-4
They have set their mouth in the heavens.Their tongue walks through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Also read 2 Chronicles 32:15, Daniel 3:15, Exodus 5:2, Luke 18:4
Therefore their people return to them,and they drink up waters of abundance.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Also read Psalm 75:8
They say, “How does God know?Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Also read Job 22:13-14, Psalm 94:7, Hosea 7:2, Psalm 44:21
Behold, these are the wicked.Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Also read Psalm 62:10, Jeremiah 5:28, Jeremiah 5:17, Hosea 12:7-8
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,and washed my hands in innocence,
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
This is the low point of his reasoning. He says he cleansed his heart and washed his hands in innocence in vain, because it brought him no visible reward.
Also read Hebrews 10:19-22, Job 34:9, Job 21:15, Psalm 24:4
For all day long I have been plagued,and punished every morning.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Also read Job 10:17, Psalm 94:12, Amos 3:2, Job 7:18
If I had said, “I will speak thus”,behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
Also read 1 Corinthians 8:11-13, Psalm 14:5, Malachi 2:8, 1 Samuel 2:24
When I tried to understand this,it was too painful for me—
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
Also read Romans 11:33, Psalm 97:2, Psalm 36:6, Luke 18:32-34
until I entered God’s sanctuary,and considered their latter end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
This is the hinge of the psalm. The problem did not resolve by thinking harder. It changed when he entered God's sanctuary and considered their latter end, their final outcome rather than their present comfort.
Also read Psalm 119:24, Psalm 27:4, Jeremiah 5:31, Psalm 63:2
Surely you set them in slippery places.You throw them down to destruction.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
Also read Psalm 35:6, Psalm 92:7, Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalm 94:23
How they are suddenly destroyed!They are completely swept away with terrors.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Also read Job 20:23-25, Daniel 5:6, Isaiah 47:11, Numbers 16:21
As a dream when one wakes up,so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Also read Job 20:8, Psalm 78:65, Psalm 7:6, Psalm 39:6
For my soul was grieved.I was embittered in my heart.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
Looking back, he describes his own state honestly. His soul was grieved and his heart was embittered. The psalm does not hide the bitterness behind the doubt.
Also read Job 16:13, Psalm 73:3, Lamentations 3:13, Psalm 37:1
I was so senseless and ignorant.I was a brute beast before you.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Also read Psalm 49:10, Isaiah 1:3, Psalm 92:6, Proverbs 30:2
Nevertheless, I am continually with you.You have held my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
The word nevertheless marks a second turn. Even while he was bitter and senseless, he was still with God, and God had held his right hand.
Also read Psalm 37:24, Psalm 139:18, Psalm 16:8, Hebrews 13:5
You will guide me with your counsel,and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
This verse looks forward. God will guide him with counsel and afterward receive him to glory. The psalm does not describe that glory, but it places the writer's future with God.
Also read Luke 23:46, Isaiah 58:8, John 17:24, Isaiah 30:21
Whom do I have in heaven?There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
A question and its answer sum up what the writer has found. He has no one in heaven but God, and on earth there is no one he desires besides him.
Also read Matthew 5:8, Psalm 17:15, Isaiah 26:8-9, Psalm 63:3
My flesh and my heart fails,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
This verse admits weakness before it states trust. His flesh and heart fail, but God is the strength of his heart and his portion forever. A portion is a share or inheritance, so God himself is what the writer receives.
Also read Psalm 27:14, Psalm 40:12, Job 13:15, Psalm 142:5
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
The fate of the wicked is stated again, now briefly. Those far from God perish, and those unfaithful to him are destroyed. This answers the envy of verse 3.
Also read Jeremiah 12:2, Numbers 15:39, Psalm 119:155, James 4:4
But it is good for me to come close to God.I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,that I may tell of all your works.
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
The last verse sets the writer against the people of verse 27. For him it is good to come close to God. He has made the Lord GOD his refuge, so that he may tell of all his works.
Also read Psalm 84:10, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 40:5, Psalm 71:17
A prayer from Psalm 73
God, you are good to those who are pure in heart. But my feet almost slipped. I envied the arrogant when I saw them prosper and live at ease. When I tried to understand it, it was too painful for me, until I came into your sanctuary. My soul was grieved, and I was senseless before you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. Guide me with your counsel. Whom do I have in heaven but you? My flesh and my heart fail, but you are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. It is good for me to come close to you. Amen.
Psalm 73 Bible study questions
- In verses 2 and 3, what almost made the writer slip?
- According to verse 17, what changed the way the writer saw the wicked?
- Verse 13 says I have cleansed my heart in vain; when might someone feel that doing right has not paid off?
- Verse 26 admits that flesh and heart fail; what do you make of the writer finding strength while admitting weakness?
- Psalm 37:1 also warns against envying those who do wrong; how does its advice compare with the struggle in Psalm 73:3?
Questions about Psalm 73
Who wrote Psalm 73?
The heading attributes it to Asaph. The psalm itself says nothing about who he was, and speaks only in the first person about his envy and his return to trust.
What is Psalm 73 about?
It tells how the writer nearly lost faith through envy of the prosperous wicked, and how entering God's sanctuary changed the way he saw them and saw God.
What does Psalm 73:26 mean?
It admits that body and heart can fail, but says God is the strength of the heart and a portion forever. The KJV reads: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
What does Psalm 73:17 mean?
It is the turning point. When the writer entered God's sanctuary, he considered the final end of the wicked, and his envy began to change.
What does Psalm 73:24 mean?
It says God will guide the writer with his counsel and afterward receive him to glory.
What does Psalm 73:28 mean?
It states the writer's conclusion: it is good for him to come close to God. He has made the Lord GOD his refuge so that he can tell of all his works.
Psalm 73 KJV: the King James Version
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.1
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.2
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.3
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.4
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.5
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.6
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.7
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.8
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.9
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.10
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?11
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.12
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.13
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.14
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.15
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;16
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.17
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.18
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.19
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.20
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.21
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.22
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.23
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.24
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.25
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.26
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.27
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.28
Psalm 73 in Hebrew
The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.
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1 מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אַ֤ךְ ט֭וֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֱלֹהִ֗ים לְבָרֵ֥י לֵבָֽב׃
2 וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט נטוי רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן שפכה אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
3 כִּֽי־קִ֭נֵּאתִי בַּֽהוֹלְלִ֑ים שְׁל֖וֹם רְשָׁעִ֣ים אֶרְאֶֽה׃
4 כִּ֤י אֵ֖ין חַרְצֻבּ֥וֹת לְמוֹתָ֗ם וּבָרִ֥יא אוּלָֽם׃
5 בַּעֲמַ֣ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ אֵינֵ֑מוֹ וְעִם־אָ֝דָ֗ם לֹ֣א יְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃
6 לָ֭כֵן עֲנָקַ֣תְמוֹ גַאֲוָ֑ה יַעֲטָף־שִׁ֝֗ית חָמָ֥ס לָֽמוֹ׃
7 יָ֭צָא מֵחֵ֣לֶב עֵינֵ֑מוֹ עָ֝בְר֗וּ מַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹת לֵבָֽב׃
8 יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ וִידַבְּר֣וּ בְרָ֣ע עֹ֑שֶׁק מִמָּר֥וֹם יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃
9 שַׁתּ֣וּ בַשָּׁמַ֣יִם פִּיהֶ֑ם וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם תִּֽהֲלַ֥ךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
10 לָכֵ֤ן ׀ ישיב עַמּ֣וֹ הֲלֹ֑ם וּמֵ֥י מָ֝לֵ֗א יִמָּ֥צוּ לָֽמוֹ׃
11 וְֽאָמְר֗וּ אֵיכָ֥ה יָדַֽע־אֵ֑ל וְיֵ֖שׁ דֵּעָ֣ה בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃
12 הִנֵּה־אֵ֥לֶּה רְשָׁעִ֑ים וְשַׁלְוֵ֥י ע֝וֹלָ֗ם הִשְׂגּוּ־חָֽיִל׃
13 אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּֽי׃
14 וָאֱהִ֣י נָ֭גוּעַ כָּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗י לַבְּקָרִֽים׃
15 אִם־אָ֭מַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָ֥ה כְמ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֤ה ד֭וֹר בָּנֶ֣יךָ בָגָֽדְתִּי׃
16 וָֽ֭אֲחַשְּׁבָה לָדַ֣עַת זֹ֑את עָמָ֖ל היא בְעֵינָֽי׃
17 עַד־אָ֭בוֹא אֶל־מִקְדְּשֵׁי־אֵ֑ל אָ֝בִ֗ינָה לְאַחֲרִיתָֽם׃
18 אַ֣ךְ בַּ֭חֲלָקוֹת תָּשִׁ֣ית לָ֑מוֹ הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃
19 אֵ֤יךְ הָי֣וּ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה כְרָ֑גַע סָ֥פוּ תַ֝֗מּוּ מִן־בַּלָּהֽוֹת׃
20 כַּחֲל֥וֹם מֵהָקִ֑יץ אֲ֝דֹנָי בָּעִ֤יר ׀ צַלְמָ֬ם תִּבְזֶֽה׃
21 כִּ֭י יִתְחַמֵּ֣ץ לְבָבִ֑י וְ֝כִלְיוֹתַ֗י אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃
22 וַאֲנִי־בַ֭עַר וְלֹ֣א אֵדָ֑ע בְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹת הָיִ֥יתִי עִמָּֽךְ׃
23 וַאֲנִ֣י תָמִ֣יד עִמָּ֑ךְ אָ֝חַ֗זְתָּ בְּיַד־יְמִינִֽי׃
24 בַּעֲצָתְךָ֥ תַנְחֵ֑נִי וְ֝אַחַ֗ר כָּב֥וֹד תִּקָּחֵֽנִי׃
25 מִי־לִ֥י בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝עִמְּךָ֗ לֹא־חָפַ֥צְתִּי בָאָֽרֶץ׃
26 כָּלָ֥ה שְׁאֵרִ֗י וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י צוּר־לְבָבִ֥י וְחֶלְקִ֗י אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃
27 כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כָּל־זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
28 וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ קִֽרֲבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֗ים לִ֫י־ט֥וֹב שַׁתִּ֤י ׀ בַּאדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י לְ֝סַפֵּ֗ר כָּל־מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ ׃
Psalm 73 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible
The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 72 there.
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1 A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
2 But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
20 As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
27 For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
Psalm 73 in Latin
The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 72.
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1 Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israël Deus, his qui recto sunt corde !
2 Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes, pene effusi sunt gressus mei:
3 quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
4 Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
5 In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.
6 Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
7 Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum; transierunt in affectum cordis.
8 Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
9 Posuerunt in cælum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
10 Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
11 Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?
12 Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo obtinuerunt divitias.
13 Et dixi: Ergo sine causa justificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas,
14 et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
15 Si dicebam: Narrabo sic; ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
16 Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc; labor est ante me:
17 donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intelligam in novissimis eorum.
18 Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis; dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.
19 Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem? subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
20 Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
21 Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt;
22 et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi:
23 ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.
24 Tenuisti manum dexteram meam, et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.
25 Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?
26 Defecit caro mea et cor meum; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in æternum.
27 Quia ecce qui elongant se a te peribunt; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.
28 Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est; ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annuntiem omnes prædicationes tuas in portis filiæ Sion.
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Psalm 73 at a glance
| Verses | 28 |
| Heading in the text | A Psalm by Asaph. |
| Attributed to | The heading attributes it to Asaph. The psalm itself says nothing more about who he was. |
| Type | Wisdom |
| Number in Greek and Latin Bibles | Psalm 72 |
Read Psalm 73 when you are facing
Psalm 73 in other translations
This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 73 in those translations at Bible Gateway.
Where Psalm 73 belongs
Psalms of AsaphBook 3 of the Psalms
How this page was made
The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.
Sources
- Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
- Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
- Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source