Psalms 73
1 “BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly 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 of a clean heart.
2 Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the proud, 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 they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.
5 They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.
7 From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.
16 So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
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 fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare 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 thy works.
