Psalms 73
1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had 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 deadly fetters for them, 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 share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
Therefore do his people turn away 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 should 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 yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall 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 perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
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 after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with 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 seized hold of me by my right hand.
24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on 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? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God 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, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away 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 as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
