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Psalms · Bible in Basic English

Psalm 73 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)

1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping; 3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers. 4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men. 6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe. 7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire. 8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts. 9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth. 10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them. 11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased. 13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness; 14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment. 15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children. 16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes; 17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers. 18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction. 19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction. 20 As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over. 21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief: 22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you. 23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand. 24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage. 27 For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you. 28 But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.

Cross references (28)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Matthew 5:8; Psalm 51:10; Psalm 84:11; Luke 12:32; James 4:8
  2. 2 Psalm 94:18; 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 116:8; Psalm 38:16; Psalm 17:5
  3. 3 Job 21:7; Jeremiah 12:1; Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 23:17; Psalm 37:1
  4. 4 Job 21:23–24; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Luke 16:22; Ecclesiastes 7:15; Psalm 17:14
  5. 5 Psalm 73:12; Job 21:9; Revelation 3:19; Jeremiah 12:1–2; Job 21:6
  6. 6 Psalm 109:18; 1 Peter 5:5; Daniel 4:30; Proverbs 1:9; Judges 8:26
  7. 7 Job 15:27; Jeremiah 5:28; Psalm 17:10; Psalm 73:12; 1 Samuel 25:36
  8. 8 Jude 16; Psalm 17:10; Psalm 10:2; 2 Peter 2:18; Proverbs 30:13–14
  9. 9 Revelation 13:6; James 3:6; Exodus 5:2; Daniel 7:25; 2 Chronicles 32:15
  10. 10 Psalm 75:8
  11. 11 Hosea 7:2; Zephaniah 1:12; Psalm 94:7; Psalm 139:1–6; Psalm 44:21
  12. 12 Psalm 52:7; Hosea 12:7–8; Jeremiah 5:28; James 5:1–3; Psalm 17:14
  13. 13 Psalm 26:6; Job 21:15; Job 34:9; James 4:8; Malachi 3:14
  14. 14 Hebrews 12:5; Psalm 94:12; Amos 3:2; Jeremiah 15:18; Job 7:3–4
  15. 15 Matthew 18:6–7; Romans 14:21; Psalm 24:6; Romans 14:15; Malachi 2:8
  16. 16 Ecclesiastes 8:17; John 16:18–19; Proverbs 30:2–3; Romans 11:33; Psalm 97:2
  17. 17 Psalm 77:13; Luke 12:20; Ecclesiastes 8:12–13; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 63:2
  18. 18 Jeremiah 23:12; Psalm 35:6; Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 55:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:9
  19. 19 Isaiah 47:11; Proverbs 28:1; Daniel 5:6; Revelation 18:10; Job 20:5
  20. 20 Job 20:8; Psalm 78:65; Psalm 90:5; Psalm 39:6; Isaiah 29:7–8
  21. 21 Psalm 73:3; Psalm 37:7; Lamentations 3:13; Job 16:13; Psalm 37:1
  22. 22 Ecclesiastes 3:18; Psalm 92:6; Isaiah 1:3; Psalm 49:10; Psalm 32:9
  23. 23 Isaiah 41:13; Psalm 63:8; Matthew 28:20; Psalm 16:8; Hebrews 13:5
  24. 24 Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 58:11; Proverbs 3:5–6; Isaiah 48:17; Psalm 48:14
  25. 25 Philippians 3:8; Psalm 16:2; Psalm 63:3; Psalm 16:5; Isaiah 26:8–9
  26. 26 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Isaiah 40:29–31; Psalm 138:3; Psalm 18:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8–10
  27. 27 James 4:4; Psalm 119:155; Exodus 34:15; Numbers 15:39; Psalm 106:39
  28. 28 James 4:8; Psalm 40:5; Hebrews 10:19–22; Lamentations 3:25–26; Psalm 65:4

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm LXXII)

    indeed this Psalm's title is fore-noted: but things are spoken of therein which could not apply to that Salomon king of Israel after the flesh, according to those things which holy Scripture speaketh concerning him: but they can most pertinently apply to the Lord Christ.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 73:9 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions (Book IV, Chapters VIII–XII)

    But whither ascend ye, when ye are on high, and set your mouth against the heavens? Descend that ye may ascend, and ascend to God.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)

  3. Quotes verse 73:28 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book X, Chapters 4–6)

    … and since works of mercy have no other object than the relief of distress or the conferring of happiness, and since there is no happiness apart from that good of which it is said, "It is good for me to be very near to God," it follows that the whole redeemed city, that is to say, the congregation or community …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)

  4. Quotes verse 73:28 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XII, Chapters 7–9)

    … love of God is shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them." And that not only of men, but primarily and principally of angels it is true, as it is written, "It is good to draw near to God." And those who have this good in common, have, both with Him to whom they …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)