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Psalm 73

This article is about Psalm 73 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 73 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 74.

Psalm 73 is the 73rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Truly God is good to Israel". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 72. In Latin, it is known as "Quam bonus Israhel Deus his qui recto sunt corde".[1] Psalm 73 is the opening psalm of Book 3 of the Book of Psalms and the second of the "Psalms of Asaph". It has been categorized as one of the Wisdom Psalms",[2] but some writers are hesitant about using this description because of its "strongly personal tone" and the references in the psalm to the temple (verses 10, his people return here, and 17, the sanctuary of God).[3] The psalm reflects on "the Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God".[4]

Psalm 73
"Truly God is good to Israel"
Initial for the Gallican version of Psalm 73 from the Golden Psalter of St. Gall (c. 890).
Other name
  • Psalmus 72
  • "Quam bonus Israhel Deus his qui recto sunt corde"
LanguageHebrew (original)
Psalm 73
BookBook of Psalms
Hebrew Bible partKetuvim
Order in the Hebrew part1
CategorySifrei Emet
Christian Bible partOld Testament
Order in the Christian part19

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.

Psalm 73 serves as the introductory verse to the third book of Psalms (Psalms 73-89), commencing with the declaration, "Surely God is good to Israel." This initial sentiment stands in stark contrast to the overarching tone of the book, often referred to as 'the dark book of the Psalms.' O. Palmer Robertson characterizes the thematic focus as the devastation accompanying the overrun of Jerusalem. Despite the grim circumstances, the opening verse resolutely affirms the goodness of God towards Israel. Noteworthy is the observation that only a select few Psalms within this collection adopt an individualistic form, with a predominant emphasis on communal expressions [5]

Text

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Hebrew

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The following table shows the Hebrew text[6][7] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 מִזְמ֗וֹר לְאָ֫סָ֥ף אַ֤ךְ ט֖וֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֱלֹהִ֗ים לְבָרֵ֥י לֵבָֽב׃‎ A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 וַאֲנִ֗י כִּ֭מְעַט (נטוי) [נָטָ֣יוּ] רַגְלָ֑י כְּ֝אַ֗יִן (שפכה) [שֻׁפְּכ֥וּ] אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃‎ But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 כִּֽי־קִ֭נֵּאתִי בַּהוֹלְלִ֑ים שְׁל֖וֹם רְשָׁעִ֣ים אֶרְאֶֽה׃‎ For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 כִּ֤י אֵ֖ין חַרְצֻבּ֥וֹת לְמוֹתָ֗ם וּבָרִ֥יא אוּלָֽם׃‎ For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 בַּעֲמַ֣ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ אֵינֵ֑מוֹ וְעִם־אָ֝דָ֗ם לֹ֣א יְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃‎ In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 לָ֭כֵן עֲנָקַ֣תְמוֹ גַאֲוָ֑ה יַעֲטָף־שִׁ֝֗ית חָמָ֥ס לָֽמוֹ׃‎ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 יָ֭צָא מֵחֵ֣לֶב עֵינֵ֑מוֹ עָ֝בְר֗וּ מַשְׂכִּיּ֥וֹת לֵבָֽב׃‎ Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 יָמִ֤יקוּ ׀ וִידַבְּר֣וּ בְרָ֣ע עֹ֑שֶׁק מִמָּר֥וֹם יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃‎ They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 שַׁתּ֣וּ בַשָּׁמַ֣יִם פִּיהֶ֑ם וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם תִּהֲלַ֥ךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃‎ They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 לָכֵ֤ן ׀ (ישיב) [יָשׁ֣וּב] עַמּ֣וֹ הֲלֹ֑ם וּמֵ֥י מָ֝לֵ֗א יִמָּ֥צוּ לָֽמוֹ׃‎ Therefore His people return hither; And waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 וְֽאָמְר֗וּ אֵיכָ֥ה יָדַֽע־אֵ֑ל וְיֵ֖שׁ דֵּעָ֣ה בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃‎ And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 הִנֵּה־אֵ֥לֶּה רְשָׁעִ֑ים וְשַׁלְוֵ֥י ע֝וֹלָ֗ם הִשְׂגּוּ־חָֽיִל׃‎ Behold, such are the wicked; And they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּֽי׃‎ Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
14 וָאֱהִ֣י נָ֭גוּעַ כׇּל־הַיּ֑וֹם וְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗י לַבְּקָרִֽים׃‎ For all the day have I been plagued, And my chastisement came every morning.
15 אִם־אָ֭מַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָ֥ה כְמ֑וֹ הִנֵּ֤ה ד֖וֹר בָּנֶ֣יךָ בָגָֽדְתִּי׃‎ If I had said: 'I will speak thus', Behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 וָ֭אֲחַשְּׁבָה לָדַ֣עַת זֹ֑את עָמָ֖ל (היא) [ה֣וּא] בְעֵינָֽי׃‎ And when I pondered how I might know this, It was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 עַד־אָ֭בוֹא אֶל־מִקְדְּשֵׁי־אֵ֑ל אָ֝בִ֗ינָה לְאַחֲרִיתָֽם׃‎ Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, And considered their end.
18 אַ֣ךְ בַּ֭חֲלָקוֹת תָּשִׁ֣ית לָ֑מוֹ הִ֝פַּלְתָּ֗ם לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃‎ Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 אֵ֤יךְ הָי֣וּ לְשַׁמָּ֣ה כְרָ֑גַע סָ֥פוּ תַ֝֗מּוּ מִן־בַּלָּהֽוֹת׃‎ How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 כַּחֲל֥וֹם מֵהָקִ֑יץ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י בָּעִ֤יר ׀ צַלְמָ֬ם תִּבְזֶֽה׃‎ As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 כִּ֭י יִתְחַמֵּ֣ץ לְבָבִ֑י וְ֝כִלְיוֹתַ֗י אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃‎ For my heart was in a ferment, And I was pricked in my reins. .
22 וַאֲנִי־בַ֭עַר וְלֹ֣א אֵדָ֑ע בְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹת הָיִ֥יתִי עִמָּֽךְ׃‎ But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 וַאֲנִ֣י תָמִ֣יד עִמָּ֑ךְ אָ֝חַ֗זְתָּ בְּיַד־יְמִינִֽי׃‎ Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 בַּעֲצָתְךָ֥ תַנְחֵ֑נִי וְ֝אַחַ֗ר כָּב֥וֹד תִּקָּחֵֽנִי׃‎ Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, And afterward receive me with glory.
25 מִי־לִ֥י בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝עִמְּךָ֗ לֹֽא־חָפַ֥צְתִּי בָאָֽרֶץ׃‎ Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 כָּלָ֥ה שְׁאֵרִ֗י וּלְבָ֫בִ֥י צוּר־לְבָבִ֥י וְחֶלְקִ֗י אֱלֹהִ֥ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃‎ My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה רְחֵקֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ הִ֝צְמַ֗תָּה כׇּל־זוֹנֶ֥ה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃‎ For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
28 וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ קִ֥רְבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֗ים לִ֫י־ט֥וֹב שַׁתִּ֤י ׀ בַּאדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י לְ֝סַפֵּ֗ר כׇּל־מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ׃‎ But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works.

King James Version

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  1. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
  2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
  3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
  4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
  5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
  6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
  7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
  8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
  9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
  10. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
  11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
  12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
  13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
  14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
  15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
  16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
  17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
  18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
  19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
  20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
  21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
  22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
  23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
  24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
  25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
  26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
  27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
  28. 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.

Verse 1

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Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.[8]

It is also possible to render the opening words, with a marginal note in the Revised Version, as "Only good is God". However, Alexander Kirkpatrick, who makes this observation, argues that "Surely God is good ..." is the preferred form of words.[9][10] He suggests that these words represent "the conclusion to which [the Psalmist] had been led through the trial of his faith".[9]

Assessment

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In the opinion of Walter Brueggemann (1984), "in the canonical structuring of the Psalter, Psalm 73 stands at its center in a crucial role. Even if the Psalm is not literarily in the center, I propose that it is centre theologically as well as canonically".[11]

This was the favourite psalm of Martin Buber, who said about it: "What is it that so draws me to this poem that is pieced together out of description, report and confession, and draws me ever more strongly the older I become? I think it is this, that here a person reports how he attained to the true sense of his life experience and that this sense touches directly on the eternal."[12]

Usage

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In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.[13]

Musical settings

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Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 73 in a metred version in German, "Dennoch hat Israel zum Trost", SWV 170, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

References

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  1. ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter, Psalmus 72 (73). Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine Medievalist.
  2. ^ Asaph (2007), Alter, Robert (ed.), The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary, et al., New York & London: W.W. Norton & Co, pp. 252–56.
  3. ^ Rodd, C. S., 18. Psalms, in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary Archived 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 387
  4. ^ Sub-title to Psalm 73 in the New King James Version
  5. ^ The Flow of the Psalms, O Palmer Robertson, P&R Publishing, 2015, pp. 122-126 ISBN 978-1-62995-133-1
  6. ^ "Psalms – Chapter 73". Mechon Mamre.
  7. ^ "Psalms 73 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  8. ^ Psalm 73:1
  9. ^ a b Kirkpatrick, A. (1906), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Psalm 73, accessed 17 February 2022
  10. ^ See also Psalm 73:1 in the New International Version
  11. ^ W. Brueggemann (1984), Message of the Psalms
  12. ^ J. Clinton McCann, Jr., A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah, Abingdon Press, 2011, 144.
  13. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
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