Psalm 73


Psalm 73 is the 73rd psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Truly God is good to Israel". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translations of the Bible, this psalm is Psalm 72. In Latin, it is known as "Quam bonus Israhel Deus his qui recto sunt corde". Psalm 73 is the opening psalm of Book 3 of the Book of Psalms and the second of the "Psalms of Asaph". It has been categorized as one of the Wisdom Psalms", but some writers are hesitant about using this description because of its "strongly personal tone" and the references in the psalm to the temple. The psalm reflects on "the Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God".
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.
Psalm 73 serves as the introductory verse to the third book of Psalms, commencing with the declaration, "Surely God is good to Israel." This initial sentiment stands in stark contrast to the overarching tone of the book, often referred to as 'the dark book of the Psalms.' O. Palmer Robertson characterizes the thematic focus as the devastation accompanying the overrun of Jerusalem. Despite the grim circumstances, the opening verse resolutely affirms the goodness of God towards Israel. Noteworthy is the observation that only a select few Psalms within this collection adopt an individualistic form, with a predominant emphasis on communal expressions

Assessment

In the opinion of Walter Brueggemann, "in the canonical structuring of the Psalter, Psalm 73 stands at its center in a crucial role. Even if the Psalm is not literarily in the center, I propose that it is centre theologically as well as canonically".
This was the favourite psalm of Martin Buber, who said about it: "What is it that so draws me to this poem that is pieced together out of description, report and confession, and draws me ever more strongly the older I become? I think it is this, that here a person reports how he attained to the true sense of his life experience and that this sense touches directly on the eternal."

Usage

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.

Musical settings

set Psalm 73 in a metred version in German, "Dennoch hat Israel zum Trost", SWV 170, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions. In the Septuagint, this psalm is numbered Psalm 72.

Verse 1

It is also possible to render the opening words, with a marginal note in the Revised Version, as "Only good is God". However, Alexander Kirkpatrick, who makes this observation, argues that "Surely God is good..." is the preferred form of words. He suggests that these words represent "the conclusion to which had been led through the trial of his faith".