Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, [even] to such as are pure in heart.
A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They are not in trouble as [other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: they speak loftily.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out by them.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked; and, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus; behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought how I might know this, it was too painful for me;
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: thou castest them down to destruction.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins:
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 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.
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
