Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who 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 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 at 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 at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came 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 had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
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 faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray 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 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.
