Psalms 73
1 A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. 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 nigh 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 compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth 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 walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
Therefore his people return hither: 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 doth 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;
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
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 thy 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 thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst 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] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt 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 thee.
23 Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.
24 By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
Thou shalt guide me with thy 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 thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.
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 faileth: [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, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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 thy works.
