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. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure heart.
2 Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
3 For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
because I was envious of the arrogant 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 they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
5 They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
7 From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
8 They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
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 tongues march through the earth.
10 Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
11 And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
Take notice: these people are wicked; they are always carefree, becoming richer and richer.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined every morning.
15 If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
If I had said, “I will say these things,” then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
16 So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
18 Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
19 How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
They are like a dream after one wakes up; Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.
21 When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
22 Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
23 Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
You will guide me with your advice 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 you? There is no one on earth that I desire but you.
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 grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
27 For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.
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 as for me, all I need to do is to approach God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge. I will declare all your deeds.
