Psalms 73
1 BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure 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.
As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
4 For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
5 They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
6 Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
8 They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How should God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
13 Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
14 While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery 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 say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
16 And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
17 Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
18 Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
20 As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
21 For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
22 But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
26 Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.
My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
27 For, lo, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.
For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
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.
As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.
