Psalms 73:27
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
American King James Version (AKJV)
For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.
Webster's Revision
For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go astray from thee.
World English Bible
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
English Revised Version (ERV)
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Clarke's Psalms 73:27 Bible Commentary
They that are far from thee shall perish - The term perish is generally used to signify a coming to nothing, being annihilated; and by some it is thus applied to the finally impenitent, they shall all be annihilated. But where is this to be found in the Scriptures? In no part, properly understood. In the new heavens and the new earth none of the wicked shall be found; for therein dwells righteousness - nothing but God and righteous spirits; but at the same time the wicked shall be in their own place. And to suppose that they shall be annihilated, is as great a heresy, though scarcely so absurd, as to believe that the pains of damnation are emendatory, and that hellfire shall burn out. There is presumptive evidence from Scripture to lead us to the conclusion, that if there be not eternal punishment, glory will not be eternal; as the same terms are used to express the duration of both. No human spirit that is not united to God can be saved. Those who are Far from Thee shall perish - they shall be lost, undone, ruined, and that without remedy. Being separated from God by sin, they shall never be rejoined; the great gulf must be between them and their Maker eternally.
All them that go a whoring from thee - That is, all that worship false gods; all idolaters. This is the only meaning of the word in such a connection. I have explained this elsewhere.
Barnes's Psalms 73:27 Bible Commentary
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish - All that are estranged from thee; all who are not thy friends. They will certainly be destroyed. For them there can be no hope. This is the fact which solved the difficulty of the psalmist in regard to the divine dealings with people, Psalm 73:3-7. The fact that there will be a righteous judgment, in which God will deal with people according to their deserts, made all plain. Compare Psalm 73:16-20.
Thou hast destroyed - That is, Thou wilt certainly destroy. The psalmist places himself in the future, and speaks of this as if it were already done. It will be so certainly done that he could speak of it as if it were already accomplished.
All them that go a whoring from thee - The relation of God to his people is often compared in the Scriptures with the marriage relation (compare Psalm 45); and a departure from Him is compared with a want of fidelity to the marriage contract. See Matthew 12:39; Matthew 16:4; Jeremiah 3:8-9; Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 13:27; Ezekiel 23:37; Revelation 2:22 :
Wesley's Psalms 73:27 Bible Commentary
73:27 Go a whoring - Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture.