Psalm 73 14

Psalm 73:14 kjv

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

Psalm 73:14 nkjv

For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.

Psalm 73:14 niv

All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.

Psalm 73:14 esv

For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

Psalm 73:14 nlt

I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.

Psalm 73 verses

Psalm 73 14 Meaning

Psalm 73:14 expresses the psalmist Asaph's bitter complaint and perception of his constant suffering and correction. He feels that while the wicked prosper, he, who has sought to live righteously, endures affliction "all day long" and is "punished every morning." This verse highlights his intense anguish and the apparent injustice he perceives before he gains spiritual insight.

Psalm 73 14 Context

Psalm 73 belongs to a collection known as the Psalms of Asaph, likely serving as choirmaster or a leader in temple worship. The Psalm is a lament, specifically grappling with the problem of evil and suffering, known as theodicy. Asaph opens by stating God's goodness to the "pure in heart" (v. 1), but then quickly admits his own profound doubt and nearly stumbles because he observed the prosperity, ease, and pride of the wicked (v. 2-12). This direct experience led him to question the value of his own righteousness, expressed pointedly in verse 13. Verse 14 is a continuation of this agonizing confession, emphasizing the perceived unfairness: his consistent dedication to God yields only constant affliction and discipline, contrasting sharply with the wicked's undisturbed lives. The turning point of the Psalm comes in verse 17, when Asaph enters the "sanctuary of God" and comprehends the ultimate end of the wicked, realizing God's sovereign justice.

Psalm 73 14 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This particle often means "surely," "indeed," or "because." Here, it introduces the reason or explanation for the psalmist's complaint in verse 13 – his clean heart and innocent hands seemingly yield nothing but suffering. It ties his experience directly to his questioning of God's justice.
• all day long (כָל־הַיּוֹם, kol-hayyom):
  • kol (כָל): Means "all," "every," "the whole."
  • hayyom (הַיּוֹם): "the day," emphasizing continuous duration.
  • This phrase emphasizes the relentless, unceasing nature of the psalmist's perceived affliction. It signifies a suffering that knows no pause or relief, a burden carried throughout the entire period of waking hours.
• I have been afflicted (נָג֙וּעַ֙ אָ֑נִי, nagu'a 'ani):
  • nagu'a (נָג֨וּעַ֙): A passive participle from the root נגע (naga'), meaning "to touch," "strike," "smite," "plague." In this passive form, it means "one who has been touched," "stricken," "afflicted," or "smitten."
  • ani (אָ֑נִי): The first-person singular pronoun, "I."
  • This implies a deep, personal experience of suffering, inflicted upon him. The sense is that of a constant assault or burden, making clear his distress and a state of perpetual harassment.
• and punished (וְהוֹכַ֖חְתִּי, wəhokhachti):
  • The conjunction wə (וְ) means "and."
  • hokhachti (הוֹכַחְתִּי): A first-person common singular form of the Hophal stem of the root יכח (yakhaḥ). This root has a broad semantic range including "to argue," "decide," "judge," "convince," "reprove," "correct," "chastise," "punish."
  • The Hophal stem indicates that the action is performed upon the subject, so "I have been reproved," "I have been corrected," "I have been chastised," or "I have been punished." Given the context of feeling innocent (v. 13) yet experiencing hardship, this word carries a strong connotation of divine discipline or a seemingly unjust affliction, rather than just criminal punishment. It's the experience of being brought under judgment or chastisement, often with the implication of correction.
• every morning (לַבְּקָרִֽים, labbeqarim):
  • la (לַ): The preposition "to" or "for."
  • beqarim (בְּקָרִֽים): Plural of boqer (בֹּקֶר), "morning."
  • This signifies regularity and repetition. Just as the suffering endures "all day long," the experience of correction or fresh affliction begins anew each morning, marking a consistent and inescapable cycle of hardship. It reinforces the idea of relentlessness.

Psalm 73 14 Bonus section

• The phrasing "all day long" and "every morning" forms a literary pair emphasizing the relentless and persistent nature of the psalmist's distress. This repetition highlights his perceived unending and inescapable suffering, creating a powerful emotional effect for the ancient reader, symbolizing chronic anguish.
• The tension in the word yakhaḥ ("punished" / "chastised") is critical. While Asaph uses it to express feeling condemned without cause, it later in Scripture often takes on the nuance of fatherly discipline for growth (e.g., Prov 3:11-12, Heb 12:5-6). Asaph perceives it as mere punishment, but the broader biblical narrative often presents such "correction" as a refining process from a loving God, even if the one being refined cannot understand it at the moment.
• This verse encapsulates a universal human struggle: the challenge of faith in the face of suffering and apparent divine silence or inaction. It anticipates similar questions raised by prophets like Jeremiah and Habakkuk, showing that this theological problem is a recurring theme for God's people throughout history.

Psalm 73 14 Commentary

Psalm 73:14 captures the peak of Asaph's spiritual crisis. He had already proclaimed that his efforts to live a life of purity were in vain (v. 13). Here, he gives the experiential evidence for that conclusion: his days are filled with unrelenting suffering, and each new morning brings a fresh dose of perceived discipline. This isn't merely a moment of weakness; it's a profound wrestling with a paradox that undermines the very foundation of his faith: if God is just and good, why do the wicked prosper without restraint while the righteous face constant adversity?

The terms "afflicted" and "punished" underscore the depth of his personal pain and his sense of being directly targeted by God's displeasure, despite his innocence. He cannot reconcile his righteous actions with his adverse circumstances. His complaint is rooted in his expectation that godliness should result in blessing, and ungodliness in immediate judgment. This verse vividly portrays the emotional and spiritual torment that arises when one's theological framework clashes with lived reality. It serves as a stark reminder that even devoted believers can experience severe doubts when their understanding of divine justice seems contradicted by empirical observation. It sets the stage for the dramatic turning point in the psalm, where he enters the sanctuary and receives divine clarity.