But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, That I may declare all Your works.
Parallel translations
- WEB But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
- KJV But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
- BSB But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
- ESV But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
- NASB But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.
- NLT But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
For Asaph, the good he sought is simply to draw near to God, making the Lord his refuge and declaring all his works.
Overview
The psalm ends where it began, in the goodness of God, now embraced as nearness to him. Asaph has learned that the highest good is not prosperity but communion with God, who is his refuge. This drawing near, once mediated by the sanctuary, is now opened freely to all through Christ, our great high priest (Hebrews 4:16).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Jas 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Ps 40:5Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, and your thoughts which are toward us. They can’t be declared back to you. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be counted.
- Heb 10:19–22Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
- Lam 3:25–26Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
- Ps 65:4Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near, that he may live in your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
- 1 Pet 3:18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
- Ps 71:24My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.
- Ps 84:10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
- Ps 118:17I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works.
- Luke 15:17–20But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!
- Ps 107:22Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his deeds with singing.
- Ps 14:6You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge.
- Ps 71:17God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
- Ps 116:7Return to your rest, my soul, for Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
- Ps 66:16Come, and hear, all you who fear God. I will declare what he has done for my soul.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 73:28 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.