Psalms 73
1 A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well near slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued 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 compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
16 When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
19 How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
As a dream when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
21 But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
23 Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
24 By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none on earth that I desire beside 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 fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from 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 it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
