Psalms 73:13

Psalms 73:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
• New International Version (NIV)Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
• English Standard Version (ESV)All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.

Context of Psalms 73:13

11They say, ‘Does God really know what we do? Does the Most High God know everything?’ 12Take a good look, and see how wicked those people are! They have no troubles, and they become richer and richer. I decided that I had tried to do what is right, but it did not help me at all! I had refused to do anything wrong, for no good reason! 14I had trouble each and every day. Punishment came to me every morning! 15If I had spoken aloud things like that, I would have turned against your own people.

Psalms 73:13 word by word

אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Verily I have cleansedזָכָהzâkâh · to cleanH2135
• my heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
• vainרִיקrîyq · vainH7385
• and washedרָחַץrâchats · to wash: washH7364
• my handsכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• in innocencyנִקָּיוֹןniqqâyôn niqqâyôn · innocenceH5356

Cross-references for Psalms 73:13

• Job 9:27I may try to be happy and to smile. I may try to forget about my troubles.
• Job 21:15We do not need to serve the Almighty God. If we pray to him, there is nothing he can do to help us.”
• Job 34:9Job says, “If anyone tries to please God, it does not help them at all.”
• Job 35:3But you also say, “If I do nothing wrong, God does not bless me. No good thing comes to me.”
• Malachi 3:14You have said, “We serve God, but that has not helped us at all. We are careful to do what he tells us to do. When we do wrong things, we have sad faces to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry.
• Psalms 24:4Only the person who does what is right, and who has pure thoughts. He does not worship idols and he does not make false promises.
• Psalms 26:6I wash my hands as a sign that I live in a pure way. I will worship you at your altar, Lord.
• Psalms 51:10God, please make my heart new and clean. And make my spirit strong and true, deep inside me.
• Hebrews 10:19So then, Christian friends, we see that Jesus died as a sacrifice on our behalf. Because of that, we may go into God's Most Holy Place. We are not afraid to do that.
• James 4:8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Be clean in the way that you live. Stop doing wrong things. Make your minds clean. You cannot love sin and love God at the same time.

Commentaries on Psalms 73:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13I 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain - That is, There is no advantage in all my efforts to become pure and holy. It does not assist me in obtaining the favor of God; and it would be just as well to live a sinful life - to indulge in the pleasures of sense - to make the world my portion. Nothing is to be gained by all my painful efforts at self-discipline; by all my endeavors to become righteous. It would have been as well for me - or better - if I had…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-14These rhetorical questions expect a discouraging “yes” as an answer. The psalmist wonders if godliness has become a meaningless ritual (see Malachi 3:14–15). my heart: This refers to his whole being. The psalmist’s pain comes from discipline and rebuke (Psalm 39:11; Proverbs 1:23, 25; 12:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1413-14. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 73:13

• Ablution
• Blindness
• Doubting
• Integrity
• Meditation
• Murmuring
• Rich, the
• Temptation
• Washing
• Wicked (People)
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Asaph
• Counsel
• Fatness
• Glory
• Hand
• Loftily
• Manasseh
• Mouth
• Psalms
• Receive

Commentaries on Psalms 73

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings