Psalms 73
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain around their neck. Violence covers them as a garment.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say: '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, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 As a dream from awakening, O Lord, when thou waken, thou will despise their form.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 For my soul was grieved, and I was pricked in my heart.
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Thou have held my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Thou will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and 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, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from 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 as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
