Psalms 73
1 `The salm of Asaph. God of Israel is ful good; to hem that ben of riytful herte.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But my feet weren moued almeest; my steppis weren sched out almeest.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For Y louede feruentli on wickid men; seynge the pees of synneris.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For biholdyng is not to the deth of hem; and stidefastnesse in the sikenesse of hem.
They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 Thei ben not in the trauel of men; and thei schulen not be betun with men.
They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therfore pride helde hem; thei weren hilid with her wickidnesse and vnfeithfulnesse.
Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 The wickidnesse of hem cam forth as of fatnesse; thei yeden in to desire of herte.
From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 Thei thouyten and spaken weiwardnesse; thei spaken wickidnesse an hiy.
They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Thei puttiden her mouth in to heuene; and her tunge passide in erthe.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therfor my puple schal be conuertid here; and fulle daies schulen be foundun in hem.
So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And thei seiden, How woot God; and whether kunnyng is an heiye, `that is, in heuene?
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Lo! thilke synneris and hauynge aboundance in the world; helden richessis.
Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 And Y seide, Therfor without cause Y iustifiede myn herte; and waischide myn hoondis among innocentis.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 And Y was betun al dai; and my chastisyng was in morutidis.
For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 If Y seide, Y schal telle thus; lo! Y repreuede the nacioun of thi sones.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 I gesside, that Y schulde knowe this; trauel is bifore me.
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
17 Til Y entre in to the seyntuarie of God; and vndurstonde in the last thingis of hem.
until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 Netheles for gilis thou hast put to hem; thou castidist hem doun, while thei weren reisid.
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 Hou ben thei maad into desolacioun; thei failiden sodeynli, thei perischiden for her wickidnesse.
How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As the dreem of men that risen; Lord, thou schalt dryue her ymage to nouyt in thi citee.
Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 For myn herte is enflaumed, and my reynes ben chaungid;
When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 and Y am dryuun to nouyt, and Y wiste not.
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 As a werk beeste Y am maad at thee; and Y am euere with thee.
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 Thou heldist my riythond, and in thi wille thou leddist me forth; and with glorie thou tokist me vp.
You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 For whi what is to me in heuene; and what wolde Y of thee on erthe?
Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 Mi fleische and myn herte failide; God of myn herte, and my part is God withouten ende.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For lo! thei that drawen awei fer hem silf fro thee, `bi deedli synne, schulen perische; thou hast lost alle men that doen fornycacioun fro thee.
Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 But it is good to me to cleue to God; and to sette myn hope in the Lord God. That Y telle alle thi prechyngis; in the yatis of the douyter of Syon.
But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
