Psalms 73 · Verse 1

Psalms 73:1

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
Psalms 73:1, King James Version

Psalms 73:1 in other translations

BSBA Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
WEBA Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
ASVA Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart.
YLTA Psalm of Asaph. Only--good to Israel is God, to the clean of heart. And I--as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,
DARBYA Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
BBETruly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
WebsterA Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

What does Psalms 73:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Psa 73:1-28. Of Asaph--(see Introduction). God is good to His people. For although the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous, tempted the Psalmist to misgivings of God's government, yet the sudden and fearful ruin of the ungodly, seen in the light of God's revelation, reassures his heart; and, chiding himself for his folly, he is led to confide renewedly in God, and celebrate His goodness and love.

1. The abrupt announcement of the theme indicates that it is the conclusion of a perplexing mental conflict, which is then detailed (compare Jr 12:1-4). Truly--or, "Surely it is so." clean heart--(Psa 18:26) describes the true Israel.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist speaks of God's goodness to his people, Psa 73:1; shows how much he was stumbled at the prosperity of the wicked, and describes their state, Psa 73:2-12; details the process of the temptation, and the pain he suffered in consequence, Psa 73:13-16; shows how he was delivered, and the dismal reverse of the state of the once prosperous ungodly man, by which his own false views were corrected, Psa 73:17-22; his great confidence in God, and the good consequences of it, Psa 73:23-28. This is the commencement of the Third Book of the Psalter; and the Psalm before us has for title, A Psalm of Asaph; or, as the margin has it, A Psalm for Asaph. The title in the Hebrew is מזמור לאסף mizmor leasaph; "A Psalm of Asaph:" and it is likely that this Asaph was the composer of it; that he lived under the Babylonish captivity; and that he published this Psalm to console the Israelites under bondage, who were greatly tried to find themselves in such outward distress and misery, while a people much more wicked and corrupt than they, were in great prosperity, and held them in bondage. Verse 1 Truly God is good to Israel - Captives as they were, they still had many blessings from God; and they had promises of deliverance, which must be fulfilled in due time. Such as are of a clean heart - Those who have a clean heart must have inward happiness: and, because they resemble God, they can never be forsaken by him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 73:1-14
The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he resolved to abide. It is the goodness of God. This is a truth which cannot be shaken. Good thoughts of God will fortify against Satan's temptations. The faith even of strong believers may be sorely shaken, and ready to fail. There are storms that will try the firmest anchors. Foolish and wicked people have sometimes a great share of outward prosperity. They seem to have the least share of the troubles of this life; and they seem to have the greatest share of its comforts. They live without the fear of God, yet they prosper, and get on in the world. Wicked men often spend their lives without much sickness, and end them without great pain; while many godly persons scarcely know what health is, and die with great sufferings. Often the wicked are not frightened, either by the remembrance of their sins, or the prospect of their misery, but they die without terror. We cannot judge men's state beyond death, by what passes at their death. He looked abroad, and saw many of God's people greatly at a loss. Because the wicked are so very daring, therefore his people return hither; they know not what to say to it, and the rather, because they drink deep of the bitter cup of affliction. He spoke feelingly when he spoke of his own troubles; there is no disputing against sense, except by faith. From all this arose a strong temptation to cast off religion. But let us learn that the true course of sanctification consists in cleansing a man from all pollution both of soul and body. The heart is cleansed by the blood of Christ laid hold upon by faith; and by the begun works of the Lord's Spirit, manifested in the hearty resolution, purpose, and study of holiness, and a blameless course of life and actions, the hands are cleansed. It is not in vain to serve God and keep his ordinances.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 73:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַ֤ךְ'akhsurelyH389
ט֭וֹבTov[is] goodH2896
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֥לle.Yis.ra.'Elto IsraelH3478
אֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimGodH430
לְבָרֵ֥יle.va.Reito [people] pure ofH1249
לֵבָֽב\׃le.VavheartH3824

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 73:1

  • Matthew 5:8

    Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

  • Psalms 51:10

    Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

  • Psalms 84:11

    For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

  • Luke 12:32

    Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

  • James 4:8

    Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

  • John 1:47

    Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

  • Romans 2:28-29

    For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

  • Jeremiah 4:14

    O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

  • Romans 4:16

    Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  • Psalms 83:1

    A Song or Psalm of Asaph. Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.

  • 2 Chronicles 29:30

    Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • Titus 3:5

    Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The prophet, prevailing in a temptation,
2 shews the occasion thereof, the prosperity of the wicked;
13 the wound given thereby, diffidence;
15 the victory over it, knowledge of God's purpose, in destroying the wicked, and sustaining the righteous.

(Title.) of. or, for.
50:1; 74:1; 83:1; *titles
1Ch 6:39; 15:17; 16:7,37; 25:1-6; 2Ch 29:30
Truly. or, Yet.
2:6; 42:11
God.
18-28; 84:11; Isa 63:7-9; Lu 12:32
to such.
Joh 1:47; Ro 2:28,29; 4:16; 9:6,7
of a clean heart. Heb. clean of heart.
51:10; Jer 4:14; Mt 5:8; Tit 3:5; Jas 4:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 73:1

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

  • Psalms 73:2

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

Read all of Psalms 73

Psalms 73:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Salmo de Asaph. CIERTAMENTE bueno es Dios á Israel, á los limpios de corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Psaume d’Asaph. Certainement Dieu est bon envers Israël, envers ceux qui sont purs de cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Fürwahr, Gott ist Israel gut, denen, die reinen Herzens sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Intellectus Asaph. Ut quid, Deus, repulisti in finem, iratus est furor tuus super oves pascuæ tuæ?