Psalms 73
1 BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like 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 chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, 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 return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16 And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray 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 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
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.
