Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they said, 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 sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is 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, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes 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 cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
