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. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
because I was envious of 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 they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues march through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Take notice: these people are wicked; they are always carefree, becoming richer and richer.
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined 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 say these things,” then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
They are like a dream after one wakes up; Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
You will guide me with your advice 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? There is no one on earth that I desire but 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 grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to 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 as for me, all I need to do is to approach God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge. I will declare all your deeds.
