Psalms 73
1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
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 gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.
3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
They are not in trouble as [other] men; Neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.
8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.
9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them.
11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.
15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;
17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.
18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:
22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
My flesh and my heart faileth; [But] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee.
28 But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.
But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.
