Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Surely God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Therefore pride is as a chain around their neck. Violence covers them as a garment.
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish.
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
Behold, these are the wicked, and those who always prosper. They have possessed wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
As a dream from awakening, O Lord, when thou waken, thou will despise their form.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
For my soul was grieved, and I was pricked in my heart.
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Thou have held my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
Thou will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
For, lo, those who are far from thee shall perish. Thou have destroyed all those who go a whoring from thee.
28 But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
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.
