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.” Truly 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;
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last 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 thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, 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, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
