God’s Word Translation
Psalms 73:13
13I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame.
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
11Then wicked people ask, “What does God know?” “Does the Most High know anything?” 12Look how wicked they are! They never have a worry. They grow more and more wealthy. I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame. 14I’m plagued ⌞with problems⌟ all day long, and every morning my punishment ⌞begins again⌟. 15If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,” I would have betrayed God’s people.
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 9:27⌞Even⌟ if I say, ‘I will forget my complaining; I will change my expression and smile,’
- Job 21:15Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? What do we gain if we pray to him?’
- Job 34:9He says, ‘It doesn’t do any good to try to please God.’
- Job 35:3when you ask, ‘What benefit is it to you?’ and, ‘What would I gain by sinning?’
- Malachi 3:14“You have said, ‘It’s pointless to serve God. What do we gain if we meet his standards or if we walk around feeling sorry for what we’ve done?
- Psalms 24:4⌞The one who⌟ has clean hands and a pure heart and does not long for what is false or lie when he is under oath.
- Psalms 26:6I will wash my hands in innocence. I will walk around your altar, O Lord,
- Psalms 51:10Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew a faithful spirit within me.
- Hebrews 10:19Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place.
- James 4:8Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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