Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. New Living Translation Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? English Standard Version All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. Berean Standard Bible Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands. King James Bible Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. New King James Version Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. New American Standard Bible Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; NASB 1995 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; NASB 1977 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; Legacy Standard Bible Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; Amplified Bible Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart And washed my hands in innocence. Christian Standard Bible Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? Holman Christian Standard Bible Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? American Standard Version Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency; Contemporary English Version What good did it do me to keep my thoughts pure and refuse to do wrong? English Revised Version Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency; GOD'S WORD® Translation I've received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame. Good News Translation Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin? International Standard Version I kept my heart pure for nothing and kept my hands clean from guilt. Majority Standard Bible Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands. NET Bible I concluded, "Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle. New Heart English Bible Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence, Webster's Bible Translation Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. World English Bible Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionOnly—a vain thing! I have purified my heart, "" And I wash my hands in innocence, Young's Literal Translation Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands, Smith's Literal Translation Surely in vain I cleansed my heart, and I will wash my hands in cleanness. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Is it in vain that I have kept my heart pure, washed my hands in innocence? New Revised Standard Version All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAs for me, I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I alone have purified my heart and have washed my hands in purity. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency; Brenton Septuagint Translation And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Endow the King with Your Justice…12Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth. 13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands. 14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.… Cross References Job 21:15-16 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ / Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked. Malachi 3:14-15 You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts? / So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’” Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.” Job 9:29-31 Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain? / If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, / then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me. Ecclesiastes 2:11 Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Jeremiah 12:1-2 Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. Job 30:26 But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile. Job 21:7-9 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? / Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes. / Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them. Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. 1 Corinthians 15:19 If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men. Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Treasury of Scripture Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. verily Job 9:27,31 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: … Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Job 34:9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. washed Psalm 24:4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Psalm 26:6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Jump to Previous Clean Cleansed Hands Heart Innocence Innocency Kept Pure Purified Purpose Righteousness Surely Vain Verily Wash Washed WashingJump to Next Clean Cleansed Hands Heart Innocence Innocency Kept Pure Purified Purpose Righteousness Surely Vain Verily Wash Washed WashingPsalm 73 1. The prophet, prevailing in a temptation2. Shows the occasion thereof, the prosperity of the wicked 13. The wound given thereby, diffidence 15. The victory over it, knowledge of God's purpose. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; This phrase reflects a moment of deep introspection and doubt. The psalmist, Asaph, is grappling with the apparent futility of maintaining personal purity and righteousness when the wicked seem to prosper. This sentiment echoes the broader biblical theme of the righteous suffering while the wicked thrive, as seen in Job's lament (Job 21:7-15) and the questioning of God's justice in Habakkuk 1:2-4. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including thoughts, emotions, and will. The psalmist's struggle is not just external but deeply internal, questioning the value of his spiritual and moral efforts. in innocence I have washed my hands. Persons / Places / Events 1. AsaphThe author of Psalm 73, Asaph was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle. He is known for his honest and heartfelt psalms that often explore themes of justice and the prosperity of the wicked. 2. The Sanctuary of God While not directly mentioned in verse 13, the sanctuary plays a crucial role in the broader context of Psalm 73. It represents the place where Asaph gains understanding and perspective on the prosperity of the wicked and the justice of God. 3. The Wicked Throughout Psalm 73, Asaph contrasts his own struggles with the apparent prosperity and ease of the wicked, which leads to his initial feelings of futility in maintaining purity. Teaching Points The Struggle with Envy and DoubtAsaph's lament highlights a common struggle among believers: the temptation to envy the prosperity of the wicked and doubt the value of righteousness. The Importance of Perspective The turning point for Asaph comes when he enters the sanctuary of God, reminding us that divine perspective is crucial in understanding life's injustices. Purity of Heart Maintaining a pure heart is not in vain; it aligns us with God's will and prepares us for His presence, as emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments. Trust in God's Justice Despite temporary appearances, God's justice prevails. Believers are called to trust in His ultimate plan and timing. The Role of Community Worship Asaph's experience underscores the importance of communal worship and fellowship in gaining spiritual insight and encouragement.Verse 13. - Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. Such was the psalmist's first instinctive feeling, when he noticed the prosperity of the wicked. The Prayer book Version inserts, between this verse and the last, the words, "and I said;" which is correct, though somewhat free, exegesis. Compare with the expression, "I have washed my hands in innocency," Job's remarkable words, "If I wash myself with snow, and make my hands never so clean" (Job 9:30). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Surelyאַךְ־ (’aḵ-) Adverb Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely in vain רִ֭יק (rîq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7385: Emptiness, a worthless thing, in vain I have kept my heart pure; זִכִּ֣יתִי (zik·kî·ṯî) Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2135: To be translucent, to be innocent in innocence בְּנִקָּי֣וֹן (bə·niq·qā·yō·wn) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5356: Clearness I have washed וָאֶרְחַ֖ץ (wā·’er·ḥaṣ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 7364: To wash, wash off or away, bathe my hands. כַּפָּֽי׃ (kap·pāy) Noun - fdc | first person common singular Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan Links Psalm 73:13 NIVPsalm 73:13 NLT Psalm 73:13 ESV Psalm 73:13 NASB Psalm 73:13 KJV Psalm 73:13 BibleApps.com Psalm 73:13 Biblia Paralela Psalm 73:13 Chinese Bible Psalm 73:13 French Bible Psalm 73:13 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Psalm 73:13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my (Psalm Ps Psa.) |