Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as 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 were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at 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;
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came 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 thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon 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 faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
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, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
