< Psalms 73 >
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, [even] to such as are pure in heart.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; 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 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 bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They are not in trouble as [other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: they speak loftily.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out by them.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 And they say, How doth 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, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus; behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 When I thought how I might know this, it was too painful for me;
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: thou castest them down to destruction.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins:
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and 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, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from 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 as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.