Psalms 73
1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 near 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 foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
For there are no bands 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 compasses them about as a chain; violence covers 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 are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How does 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
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 say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
When I thought to 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; then understood I their end.
18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as 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 wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
You shall guide me with your 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 you? and there is none on earth that I desire beside you.
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 fails: 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, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
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 to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
