Focused Passage

Psalms 73:21-26

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

21When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

23Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Cross-references

Psalms 37:7Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:38Classic cross-references Lamentations 3:13Classic cross-references Psalms 73:3Classic cross-references Job 16:13Classic cross-references

Original words

Whenכִּ֭יH3588Conjunctionmy heartלְבָבִ֑יH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwas grievedיִתְחַמֵּ֣ץH2556Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularand I was piercedאֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃H8150Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - first person common singularwithinוְ֝כִלְיוֹתַ֗יH3629Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Ecclesiastes 3:18Classic cross-references Psalms 92:6Classic cross-references Job 18:3Classic cross-references Ephesians 5:15Classic cross-references Isaiah 1:3Classic cross-references

Original words

I wasוַאֲנִי־H589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularsenselessבַ֭עַרH1198Adjective - masculine singularandוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleignorantאֵדָ֑עH3045Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularI wasהָיִ֥יתִיH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulara brute beastבְּ֝הֵמ֗וֹתH929Noun - feminine pluralbefore Youעִמָּֽךְ׃H5973Preposition | second person feminine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

Isaiah 41:13Classic cross-references Psalms 16:8Classic cross-references Psalms 139:10Classic cross-references Psalms 63:8Classic cross-references Matthew 28:20Classic cross-references

Original words

Yet Iוַאֲנִ֣יH589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularam alwaysתָמִ֣ידH8548Adverbwith Youעִמָּ֑ךְH5973Preposition | second person masculine singularYou holdאָ֝חַ֗זְתָּH270Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularmy rightיְמִינִֽי׃H3225Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularhandבְּיַד־H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct

Verse 24

Cross-references

Isaiah 48:17Classic cross-references Psalms 31:19Classic cross-references Psalms 23:6Classic cross-references Psalms 32:8Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 4:18Classic cross-references

Original words

You guide meתַנְחֵ֑נִיH5148Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularwith Your counselבַּעֲצָתְךָ֥H6098Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularand laterוְ֝אַחַ֗רH310Conjunctive waw | Adverbreceive meתִּקָּחֵֽנִי׃H3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularin gloryכָּב֥וֹדH3519Noun - masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

Colossians 3:1Classic cross-references Luke 14:26Classic cross-references John 6:68Classic cross-references Philippians 3:8Classic cross-references Luke 10:42Classic cross-references

Original words

Whom have Iמִי־H4310Interrogativein heaven but Youבַשָּׁמָ֑יִםH8064Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralAnd on earthבָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularI desireחָפַ֥צְתִּיH2654Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularno oneלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebesides Youוְ֝עִמְּךָ֗H5973Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 12:9Classic cross-references Isaiah 40:29Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 4:16Classic cross-references Psalms 138:3Classic cross-references Psalms 16:8Classic cross-references

Original words

My fleshשְׁאֵרִ֗יH7607Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand my heartוּלְבָ֫בִ֥יH3824Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularmay failכָּלָ֥הH3615Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularbut Godאֱלֹהִ֥יםH430Noun - masculine pluralis the strengthצוּר־H6697Noun - masculine singular constructof my heartלְבָבִ֥יH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand my portionוְחֶלְקִ֗יH2506Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularforeverלְעוֹלָֽם׃H5769Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew rock

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