Psalms 73
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are 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 were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they afflicted like [other] men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Therefore pride encompasseth them as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
For all the day long have I been afflicted, and chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] I understood their end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O LORD, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast held [me] by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go astray from thee.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your 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.
