Mazmur 73:4

73:4 For they suffer no pain; ¹ 

their bodies ²  are strong and well-fed. ³ 

Mazmur 73:12-14

73:12 Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, ⁴ 

those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. ⁵ 

73:13 I concluded, ⁶  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ⁷  pure

and maintained a pure lifestyle. ⁸ 

73:14 I suffer all day long,

and am punished every morning.”

[73:4]  ¹ tn 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.

[73:4]  ² tn Or “bellies.”

[73:4]  ³ tc Or “fat.” The MT 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 (lÿmotam,“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 MT (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 ANET 661.

[73:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “Look, these [are] the wicked.”

[73:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “the ones who are always at ease [who] increase wealth.”

[73:13]  ⁶ tn The words “I concluded” are supplied in the translation. It is apparent that vv. 13-14 reflect the psalmist’s thoughts at an earlier time (see vv. 2-3), prior to the spiritual awakening he describes in vv. 17-28.

[73:13]  ⁷ tn Heb “heart,” viewed here as the seat of one’s thoughts and motives.

[73:13]  ⁸ tn Heb “and washed my hands in innocence.” The psalmist uses an image from cultic ritual to picture his moral lifestyle. The reference to “hands” suggests actions.