Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
25 For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?
Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and 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, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
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 draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
