Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.
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.
