Psalms 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well near slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none on earth that I desire beside you.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
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.
