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. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean 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 gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
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 having you I have no desire for anything on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with 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 it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.
