Psalms 73
1 BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well near slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
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 like other men.
6 Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore his people return here: and 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, 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened 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 say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
16 And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
As a dream when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
21 For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
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 as a beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
24 With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none on earth that I desire 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 flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and 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, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go 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 draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
