Psalms 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped.
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain around their neck. Violence covers them as a garment.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and those who always prosper. They have possessed wealth.
Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
20 As a dream from awakening, O Lord, when thou waken, thou will despise their form.
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 For my soul was grieved, and I was pricked in my heart.
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Thou have held my right hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Thou will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, those who are far from thee shall perish. Thou have destroyed all those who go a whoring from thee.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have made the lord Jehovah my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
