Psalms 73
1 A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How should God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
Behold, these are the wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
23 Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
24 Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
25 For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.
27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
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 cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
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.
