Psalm 73:1
73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly {a} God [is] good to Israel,
     [even] to such as are of a clean heart.

     (a) As it were between hope and despair he bursts forth
         into this affection, being assured that God would
         continue his favour toward such as were godly indeed,
         and not hypocrites.

Psalm 73:4
73:4 For [there are] {b} no bands in their death: but their
     strength [is] firm.

     (b) The wicked in this life live at pleasure and are not
         drawn to death like prisoners: that is, by sickness
         which is death's messenger.

Psalm 73:6
73:6 {c} Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
     violence covereth them [as] a garment.

     (c) They glory in their pride as some do in their chains,
         and in cruelty, as some do in apparel.

Psalm 73:9
73:9 They {d} set their mouth against the heavens, and their
     tongue walketh through the earth.

     (d) They blaspheme God, and do not fear his power and rail
         upon men, because they esteem themselves above all
         others.

Psalm 73:10
73:10 Therefore his {e} people return hither: and waters of a
      full [cup] are wrung out to them.

      (e) Not only the reprobate, but also the people of God
          often fall back seeing the prosperous estate of the
          wicked, and are overwhelmed with sorrows, thinking
          that God does not correctly consider the estate of the
          godly.

Psalm 73:11
73:11 And they {f} say, How doth God know? and is there
      knowledge in the most High?

      (f) Thus the flesh moves even the godly to dispute with
          God concerning their poor estate, and the prosperity
          of the wicked.

Psalm 73:15
73:15 If I say, {g} I will speak thus; behold, I should offend
      [against] the generation of thy children.

      (g) If I give place to this wicked thought, I offend
          against your providence, seeing you do all things most
          wisely and preserve your children in their greatest
          dangers.

Psalm 73:17
73:17 Until I went into the {h} sanctuary of God; [then]
      understood I their end.

      (h) Until I entered into your school and learned by your
          word and Holy Spirit that you order all things most
          wisely and justly.

Psalm 73:19
73:19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment!
      they are {i} utterly consumed with terrors.

      (i) By your fearful judgment.

Psalm 73:20
73:20 As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when {k} thou
      awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

      (k) When you open our eyes to consider your heavenly
          happiness, we contemn all their vain pomp.

Psalm 73:22
73:22 So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a {l} beast
      before thee.

      (l) For the more that man goes about by his own reason to
          seek out God's judgments, the more he declares himself
          a beast.

Psalm 73:23
73:23 Nevertheless I [am] continually {m} with thee: thou hast
      holden [me] by my right hand.

      (m) By faith I was assured that your providence always
          watched over me to preserve me.

Psalm 73:25
73:25 Whom have I in {n} heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none
      upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.

      (n) He sought neither help nor comfort of any save God
          only.

Psalm 73:26
73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength
      of my heart, and my {o} portion for ever.

      (o) He teaches us to deny ourselves, to have God our whole
          sufficiency, and only contentment.

Psalm 73:27
73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou
      hast destroyed all them that {p} go a whoring from thee.

      (p) That is, forsake you to seek others.

Psalm 73:28
73:28 But [it is] good for me {q} to draw near to God: I have
      put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy
      works.

      (q) Though all the world shrinks from God, yet he promises
          to trust in him and to magnify his works.