Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
