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.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
Yet my feet almost gave way; 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 proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up 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; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in 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 whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God 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 who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
