the Week of Proper 21 / Ordinary 26
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New Living Translation
Psalms 73:13
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Surely in vain I have kept my heart pureAnd washed my hands in innocence;
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;
Truely I haue cleansed my heart in vayne: and wasshed my handes in innocencie.
Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
Surely I have purified my heart in vain; and I have washed my hands in innocence.
Clearly, then, I gain nothing by keeping my thoughts pure! What good is it to keep myself from sin?
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
Shulde I then clense my hert in vayne (thought I) & wash my hondes in innocency?
Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart And washed my hands in innocence.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence;
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
I concluded, "Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.
What good did it do me to keep my thoughts pure and refuse to do wrong?
It's all for nothing that I've kept my heart clean and washed my hands, staying free of guilt;
Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
As for me, I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence.
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
(72-13) And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence.
All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;
So why have I kept my heart pure? Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?
Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin?
Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
And Y seide, Therfor without cause Y iustifiede myn herte; and waischide myn hoondis among innocentis.
Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,
All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
Contextual Overview
A psalm of Asaph.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. 2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5 They don't have troubles like other people; they're not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. 9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. 10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Verily: Job 9:27, Job 9:31, Job 21:15, Job 34:9, Job 35:3, Malachi 3:14
washed: Psalms 24:4, Psalms 26:6, Psalms 51:10, Hebrews 10:19-22, James 4:8
Reciprocal: Genesis 20:5 - and innocency Deuteronomy 21:6 - wash their hands 1 Kings 17:20 - hast thou also Job 9:29 - General Job 17:9 - clean Psalms 58:11 - Verily there is Ecclesiastes 8:14 - there be just Matthew 15:9 - in 1 Corinthians 15:14 - General 1 Corinthians 15:32 - what 1 Corinthians 15:58 - is not 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - in vain
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain,.... Which supposes that his heart had been unclean, as every man's is, and which appears by what is in it, and by what comes out of it; that it was now cleansed, not in an absolute and legal sense, as if it was wholly free from sin, for this no man can say; but in an evangelical sense, being purified by faith in the blood of Christ; that he had himself some concern in the cleansing of his heart, which seems to be contrary to Proverbs 20:9 and besides, this is the Lord's own work, Psalms 51:10 wherefore this may be considered as a wrong and rash expression of his; for as he was wrong in one part of it, its being cleansed in vain, so he might be in the other, in ascribing it to himself; though it may be allowed, consistent with what is before observed, that a believer has a concern in the cleansing of his heart; for, being convinced of the impurity of it, he owns and laments it before the Lord; and, seeing the fountain of the Redeemer's blood opened, he applies to it, and to him for cleansing; and expresses a love unto, a great and studious concern for purity of heart as well as life; and, under the influence of divine grace, is enabled to keep a watch over it, whereby, through the same grace, it is preserved from much pollution; and by fresh application to the blood of Christ, is cleansed from what it daily contracts:
and washed my hands in innocency: that is, "in vain", as before; which denotes the performance of good works, a course of holy life and conversation, which when right springs from purity of heart;
Psalms 51:10- :, now the psalmist under temptation concluded that all his religion and devotion were in vain, all his hearing, and reading, and attending on ordinances, all his concern for purity of heart and life; since those who showed no regard to these things prospered in the world, and increased in riches, abounded in ease and plenty, and seemed to be rather the favourites of heaven than religious men; and this temptation was strengthened by the following observation.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Verily 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 lived a life of sin like other people. The righteous obtain from God fewer blessings than the wicked; they have less happiness and less prosperity in this world; they are subjected to more trouble and sorrow; and to all else there must be added the struggles, the conflict, the warfare, the painful effort “to be” pure, and to lead a holy life, all of which is now seen to be of no advantage whatever. Such thoughts as these were not confined to the psalmist. They are thoughts which will start up in the mind, and which it is not easy to calm down.
And washed my hands in innocency - That is, It has been of no use that I have washed my hands in innocency. The word “innocency” here means “purity.” He had washed his hands in that which was pure; as, pure water. To wash the hands is emblematic of innocence or purity. See the notes at Psalms 26:6.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Psalms 73:13. 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.
