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. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had almost slipped.
3 Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
For I was envious at the foolish, 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 there are no pangs in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
Therefore pride surroundeth them as a chain; 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.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in 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, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
For all the day long have I been afflicted, and chastened every morning.
15 If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.
18 But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.
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 into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
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; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast held me by 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.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none upon earth that I desire besides 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.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but 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 that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go astray 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 have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
