Psalms 73
1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
3 because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
5 They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
6 Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
7 Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
8 They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues march through the earth.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
And they say, How can 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 wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
14 For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined every morning.
For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened 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 be faithless to the generation of thy children.
16 Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
17 Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
19 How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
20 They are like a dream after one wakes up; Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.
As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
Nevertheless 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 wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? There is no one on earth that I desire but you.
Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and 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 are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth 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 as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
