BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 73

Psalms book home•Chapter 73 of 150•28 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Psalms 73 Overview

Asaph nearly slips because arrogant people prosper, describes their apparent ease, enters God's sanctuary and understands their end, then confesses that nearness to God is his true good.

PsalmsBook

73Chapter

28Verses

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Before you read Psalms 73

Coming from

Psalm 72 centered on prayer for the royal son and a reign of universal righteousness. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

Asaph nearly slips because arrogant people prosper, describes their apparent ease, enters God's sanctuary and understands their end, then confesses that nearness to God is his true good.

Leads into

Psalm 74 turns to lament over a devastated sanctuary, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 73 belongs to Book III of the Psalter (Psalms 73–89). Psalm 73 opens Book III and confronts the same problem of simplistic prosperity theology that appears in Job. Its position opens Book III, so its themes contribute to a new major section of the Psalter.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

The sanctuary corrects envy of the prosperous wicked.

Wisdom truth

In Psalm 73, godly wisdom evaluates life by the LORD’s revealed moral order rather than by appearances alone.

Worship truth

In Psalm 73, worship is anchored in God’s holiness, works, and covenant faithfulness rather than empty ritual.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 directs those who lack wisdom to ask God, the giver of wisdom. This connection helps frame Psalm 73.

Worship connection

1 Chronicles 16 displays ordered public worship centered on the LORD’s name and works. This connection helps frame Psalm 73.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not turn a wisdom contrast in Psalm 73 into a mechanical formula that guarantees immediate earthly outcomes in every case.

Keep worship in context

Do not assume every old-covenant worship form named in Psalm 73 is automatically a command for New Testament church practice.

Read Psalms 73 watching for…

feet almost gone.

wicked prosper.

until sanctuary.

slippery places.

whom have I in heaven.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-14Asaph nearly stumbles because he envies the apparent prosperity of the wicked 15-20Entering God’s sanctuary reveals the sudden end of the wicked 21-28Asaph confesses his foolishness and declares God to be his portion and strength

A Psalm of Asaph.Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

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.

STUDY THIS VERSE

Psalms 73:27

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