Psalms 73 · Verse 13

Psalms 73:13

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Psalms 73:13, King James Version

Psalms 73:13 in other translations

BSBSurely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
WEBSurely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
ASVSurely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
YLTOnly--a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,
DARBYTruly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
BBEAs for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
WebsterVerily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

What does Psalms 73:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 73:13-14
13-14. The Psalmist, partaking of these troubles, is especially disturbed in view of his own case, that with all his diligent efforts for a holy life, he is still sorely tried.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 I have cleansed my heart in vain - It is no advantage to us to worship the true God, to walk according to the law of righteousness, and keep the ordinances of the Most High.

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…

Read the full comment on Psalms 73:1-14 →

Psalms 73:13 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.

אַךְ\־'akh-surelyH389
רִ֭יקrikvanityH7385
זִכִּ֣יתִיzi.Ki.tiI have kept pureH2135
לְבָבִ֑יle.va.Viheart myH3824
וָאֶרְחַ֖ץva.'er.Chatzand I have washedH7364
בְּנִקָּי֣וֹןbe.ni.ka.Yonin innocenceH5356
כַּפָּֽי\׃ka.Paihands myH3709

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

Cross references for Psalms 73:13

  • Psalms 26:6

    I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord:

  • Job 21:15

    What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

  • Job 34:9

    For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

  • 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.

  • Malachi 3:14

    Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

  • Psalms 51:10

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

  • Job 35:3

    For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

  • Hebrews 10:19-22

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Job 9:31

    Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

  • Job 9:27

    If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

  • Psalms 24:4

    He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Verily.
Job 9:27,31; 21:15; 34:9; 35:3; Mal 3:14
washed.
24:4; 26:6; 51:10; Heb 10:19-22; Jas 4:8

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

Context

  • Psalms 73:12

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

  • Psalms 73:13

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

  • Psalms 73:14

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

Read all of Psalms 73

Psalms 73:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Verdaderamente en vano he limpiado mi corazón, y lavado mis manos en inocencia;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Certainement c’est en vain que j’ai purifié mon cœur et que j’ai lavé mes mains dans l’innocence:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Fürwahr, vergebens habe ich mein Herz gereinigt, und in Unschuld gewaschen meine Hände.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tu confirmasti in virtute tua mare; contribulasti capita draconum in aquis.