They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
Parallel translations
- WEB For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
- KJV For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
- ESV For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
- NKJV For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.
- NASB For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat.
- NLT They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
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
It seemed to Asaph that the wicked suffer no struggles in death and remain strong and healthy.
Overview
From his troubled vantage point, the wicked appear to escape the pains that afflict others, even in dying. Their seeming immunity to suffering fueled his envy. The psalm will later overturn this surface impression by revealing the sudden and certain end of those who forget God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Job 21:23–24One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.
- Ps 17:14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
- Luke 16:22One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.
- Eccl 2:16For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!
- Job 24:20The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree.
- Ps 17:10They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
- Eccl 7:15In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
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 73:4 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.