Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Truly Elohim is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 foolish, 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 bands 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; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth 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 are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They 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 a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they say, How doth El 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, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
For all the day long have I 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 say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
When I thought to know 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 El; then understood I their end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How are they brought into desolation, as 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 when one awaketh; so, O YHWH, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
So foolish was I, 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 hast holden me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
Thou shalt 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 but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside 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 faileth: but Elohim is the strength 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 are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that 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 Elohim: I have put my trust in the Sovereign YHWH, that I may declare all thy works.
