Psalms 73
1 [A Psalm by Asaph.] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
7 Their sin proceeds forth from fatness. Their hearts overflow with imaginations.
Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
11 They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Look, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
14 For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.
For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus;" look, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;
When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
17 Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away with terrors.
How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, LORD, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
25 Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.
Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
27 For, look, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the LORD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works in the gates of the daughter of Zion.
But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.
