Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”
‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
12 Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.
But I am always with you, you have hold of 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.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
25 For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?
Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to 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 I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
