Psalms 73
1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure heart.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 For they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues march through the earth.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Take notice: these people are wicked; they are always carefree, becoming richer and richer.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined every morning.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will say these things,” then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16 Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 They are like a dream after one wakes up; Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your advice and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? There is no one on earth that I desire but you.
For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26 My flesh and my heart grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
28 But as for me, all I need to do is to approach God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge. I will declare all your deeds.
But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
