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 by Asaph.] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in 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 nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
They are free from burdens of men, 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 is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
Their sin proceeds forth from fatness. Their hearts overflow with imaginations.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
Therefore his people turn to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
Look, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
If I had said, "I will speak thus;" look, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
How they are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away 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 wakes up, so, LORD, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.
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 fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
For, look, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
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 come close to God. I have made the LORD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works in the gates of the daughter of Zion.
