English Standard Version
Psalms 73:13
13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
Context of Psalms 73:13
11And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
Read all of Psalms 73Psalms 73:13 word by word
אַךְ־רִ֭יק זִכִּ֣יתִי לְבָבִ֑י וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן כַּפָּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Psalms 73:13
- Job 9:27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'
- Job 21:15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
- Job 34:9For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.'
- Job 35:3that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'
- Malachi 3:14You have said, 'It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts?
- Psalms 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
- Psalms 26:6I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,
- Psalms 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
- Hebrews 10:19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
- James 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries