Psalms 73
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
Yet my feet almost gave way; 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 of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in 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 whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
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 fail, 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 who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
