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Psalm 73:3–5

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73:3For I envied those who are proud,

as I observed4 the prosperity5 of the wicked.

73:4For they suffer no pain;6

their bodies7 are strong and well-fed.8

73:5They are immune to the trouble common to men;

they do not suffer as other men do.9

Read in Logos
Psalm 73:3: For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Footnotes

  1. 4 The imperfect verbal form here depicts the action as continuing in a past time frame.
  2. 5 Heb “peace” (שָׁלוֹם, shalom).
  3. 6 In Isa 58:6, the only other occurrence of this word in the OT, the term refers to “bonds” or “ropes.” In Ps 73:4 it is used metaphorically of pain and suffering that restricts one’s enjoyment of life.
  4. 7 Or “bellies.”
  5. 8 Or “fat.” The of v. 4 reads as follows: “for there are no pains at their death, and fat [is] their body.” Since a reference to the death of the wicked seems incongruous in the immediate context (note v. 5) and premature in the argument of the psalm (see vv. 18–20, 27), some prefer to emend the text by redividing it. The term לְמוֹתָם (lémotam,“at their death”) is changed to לָמוֹ תָּם (lamo tam, “[there are no pains] to them, strong [and fat are their bodies]”). The term תָּם (tam, “complete; sound”) is used of physical beauty in Song 5:2; 6:9. This emendation is the basis for the present translation. However, in defense of the (the traditional Hebrew text), one may point to an Aramaic inscription from Nerab which views a painful death as a curse and a nonpainful death in one’s old age as a sign of divine favor. See 661.
  6. 9 Heb “in the trouble of man they are not, and with mankind they are not afflicted.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death;

their bodies are fat and sleek.

They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For I envied the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.

They are free from common human burdens;

they are not plagued by human ills.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For I envied the arrogant;

I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

They have an easy time until they die,

and their bodies are well fed.

They are not in trouble like others;

they are not afflicted like most people.

NLTNew Living Translation

For I envied the proud

when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

They seem to live such painless lives;

their bodies are so healthy and strong.

They don’t have troubles like other people;

they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

because I envied the boastful

when I saw the well-being of the wicked.

For there are no pains up to their death,

and their bodies are healthy.

They do not have ordinary trouble,

and they are not plagued as other people.

KJV 1900King James Version

For I was envious at the foolish,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death:

But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men;

Neither are they plagued like other men.