Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
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 it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
