Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 near slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the foolish, 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 bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How does 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, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
As a dream when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none on earth that I desire beside 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 fails: but God is the strength 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, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from 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 draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
