Psalms 73
1 A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
