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Psalm 73:1

A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

1A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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Psalm 73:2 →
Notice

“Surely” opens a claim about God’s goodness that soon meets a hard sight: arrogant people prospering while Asaph’s own footing almost gives way.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What makes Asaph’s claim, “God is good to Israel,” easy or hard for you to affirm?

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What do you understand “pure in heart” to mean when envy enters Asaph’s account two verses later?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.

This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 31:19Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for those who fear you, which you have worked for those who take refuge in you, before the sons of men!Both name God’s goodness toward his people, describing them as pure in heart or as those who fear him and take refuge.
Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.The pure heart named in Psalm 73 connects with Psalm 51’s plea for God to create a clean heart.
Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Both name “the pure in heart,” connecting them with God’s goodness in the psalm and the promise of seeing God in Matthew.
Psalm 24:4He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.Both describe purity of heart; Psalm 24 also names clean hands and freedom from falsehood and deceit.
Luke 12:32“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.Both speak of God’s goodness toward his people: goodness to Israel and the Father’s pleasure in giving the Kingdom.
Psalm 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.Both connect God’s goodness with integrity among his people, naming purity of heart and a blameless walk.
James 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded.Purity of heart links these passages: Psalm 73 describes it, while James commands hearers to purify their hearts.
Hebrews 12:8But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not children.The connection is limited to belonging: Psalm 73 names Israel and the pure in heart; Hebrews distinguishes children from those without discipline.
John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”Both connect Israelite identity with inner integrity: Psalm 73 names pure hearts, and Jesus describes Nathanael as free from deceit.
Deuteronomy 23:5Nevertheless the LORD your God wouldn’t listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing to you, because the LORD your God loved you.God’s goodness to Israel is the shared thread; Deuteronomy recounts his love expressed in turning a curse into a blessing.
Romans 2:28–29For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;Both address Israelite or Jewish identity, though Romans questions outward identity while Psalm 73 names purity of heart.
1 Chronicles 6:39His brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,Asaph’s name appears in both texts: as the psalm’s named author and as a son of Berechiah in Chronicles.
Where this verse fits

Envy and comparison. doubt. praise and worship.

What the Bible says about doubt →What the Bible says about worship →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Read Psalm 73:1–3 and underline God’s goodness

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Encouragement

Asaph’s confession of envy follows his confession of God’s goodness. His unsteady steps do not erase the opening claim: God is good to those who are pure in heart.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 73:1. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 73 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).