Psalms 73
1 A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly 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.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And they said: How doth 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 sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn 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 I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
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.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last 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 thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
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.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
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 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.
