Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.
4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they said, 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 sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Surely you have appointed [judgements] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.
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 cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
