Psalms 73
1 BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, [even] to such as are 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.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, 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 is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth 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 scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, 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 return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out by them.
11 And they say, How should God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How doth 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 wicked; and, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
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 had said, I will speak thus; behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
When I thought how I might 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, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
Surely thou settest them in slippery places: thou castest them down to 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 become a desolation 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 awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
For 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 brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
Thou shalt guide me with thy 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 thee]? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside 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 and my heart faileth: [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, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go 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.
But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
