Psalms 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
And they said, How does 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, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely you did set them in slippery places: you casted them down into destruction.
Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.
For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26 My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring 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 it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
