Psalms 73
1 A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure heart.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, 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 of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
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 vigorous is their body;
5 They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues march through the earth.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn to them and abundant waters are drained out.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
And they say—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.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart and washed my hands in innocence.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 For all the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined every morning.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 If I had said, “I will say these things,” then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
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, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
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 him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 You will guide me with your advice and afterward receive me to glory.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take 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, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart forever.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely 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, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
