Psalms 73
1 A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
Surely God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.
2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
Therefore pride is as a chain around their neck. Violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish.
8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
Behold, these are the wicked, and those who always prosper. They have possessed wealth.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.
16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,
17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.
19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
As a dream from awakening, O Lord, when thou waken, thou will despise their form.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
For my soul was grieved, and I was pricked in my heart.
22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.
23 Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Thou have held my right hand.
24 You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
Thou will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.
For, lo, those who are far from thee shall perish. Thou have destroyed all those who go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have made the lord Jehovah my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
