Psalms 73
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious at the arrogant, 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 deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say, How should 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 wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall 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 perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on 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? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God 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, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away 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 as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
