until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
Parallel translations
- WEB Until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
- KJV Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
- NKJV Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.
- NASB Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.
- NLT Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Everything changed when he entered God's sanctuary and there grasped the final end of the wicked.
Overview
The turning point of the psalm comes in worship, where Asaph gains an eternal perspective. In God's presence he sees that the prosperity of the wicked is fleeting and their end is destruction. True understanding of life's apparent injustices comes through drawing near to God, a nearness opened fully to us through Christ (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Ps 77:13Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
- Luke 12:20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’
- Ps 27:4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
- Eccl 8:12–13Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Ps 63:2So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.
- Ps 37:37–38Consider the blameless and observe the upright, for posterity awaits the man of peace.
- Ps 119:24Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.
- Job 27:8For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
- Jer 5:31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it so, but what will you do in the end?
- Ps 119:130The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- Luke 16:22–23One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 73:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.