Psalms 73:4

³For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. ⁵They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

Summary

In this verse, the psalmist expresses his struggle with envy and bitterness as he observes the prosperity of the wicked. He questions the point of living righteously when the ungodly seem to thrive. This internal conflict reflects the common human experience of grappling with the apparent injustice in the world. The psalmist's honesty in sharing his doubts and struggles serves as a reminder that it is normal to wrestle with such feelings, but ultimately, he finds resolution in the presence of God.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

For there are no bands in their death,.... Nothing that binds and straitens them, afflicts and distresses them; they have no pain of mind nor of body, but die at once, suddenly, in a moment, wholly at ease and quiet, without any bitterness of soul; see Job 21:13, or "there are no bands until their death" (f); they have no straits nor difficulties all their life long, no distempers nor diseases which may be called "bonds", Luk 13:12, till they come to die: the Vulgate Latin version is, "there is no respect to their death"; they take no notice of it, they have no care or concern about it; or, as the Targum, "they are not terrified nor troubled because of the day of their death;'' they put it away far from them, and think nothing about it: but their strength is firm; they are hale and robust, healthful and sound, to the day of their death; their strength is not weakened in the way by diseases and distempers. Some take the word rendered "strength" to signify a porch or palace, and translate it, they are strong as a palace, or in a palace, or their palace is strong (g) their houses are well built, and continue long. (f) "usque ad mortem eorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis. (g) "palatium vel sicut palatium"; so some in Piscator; "porticus", Schmidt; so R. Jonah, Arama, and Jerom.