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 them that are of a right heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
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 hath passed through the earth.
10 Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
And they said: How doth 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 sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
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 condemn the generation of thy children.
16 And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason 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 them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that 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 go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to 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 adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
