Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.
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 traversed the earth.
10 Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly 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 a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.
27 For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from 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 it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.
