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 them that are of a right heart!
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 because I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 For they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
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 hath passed through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
And they said: How doth 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 sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined every morning.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
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 condemn the generation of thy children.
16 Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason 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 them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 You will guide me with your advice and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
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? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My flesh and my heart grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that 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 go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to 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 adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
