Psalms 73
1 A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 But, as for me, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
