Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, 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 boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”
And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
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 him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken 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 thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
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? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
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, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely 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, as for me, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
