Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
12 Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to 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 I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
