Psalms 73
1 Truly Elohim is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 foolish, 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 bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; 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 out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 They 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 a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 And they say, How doth El 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, these are the wicked, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, 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 long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of El; then understood I their end.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with 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 YHWH, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 So foolish was I, 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 hast holden me by my right hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but Elohim is the strength 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 are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to Elohim: I have put my trust in the Sovereign YHWH, that I may declare 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.
