Psalms 73

1 A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.

A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!

2 But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.

But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.

3 For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.

For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.

4 For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.

For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.

5 They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.

They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.

6 Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.

Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.

7 Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.

Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.

8 They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.

They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.

They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.

10 Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.

Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.

11 And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”

And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.

Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.

13 And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.

And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.

For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.

15 If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.

If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.

16 I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,

And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,

17 until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.

until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.

18 So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.

Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.

19 How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.

How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.

20 As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.

As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.

21 For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.

For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

22 And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.

But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.

23 I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.

Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.

24 You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.

You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.

25 For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?

For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?

26 My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.

My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

27 For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you.

For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.

28 But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.

But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.