Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly 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.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last 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 thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and 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, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
