Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, 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 boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained 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.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely 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 drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
