Psalms 73
1 BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.
4 For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 And they say, How should 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 wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
16 And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
Surely you have appointed [judgements] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
21 For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
24 With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
26 Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God 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, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.
28 But as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
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.
