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 of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
5 In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
7 Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
11 And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
And they say, How can 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 wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened 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 be faithless to the generation of thy children.
16 And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
17 Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
21 For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
22 But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
Nevertheless 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 wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and 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 are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth 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 as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
