Psalms 73
1 `The salm of Asaph. God of Israel is ful good; to hem that ben of riytful herte.
A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
2 But my feet weren moued almeest; my steppis weren sched out almeest.
But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
3 For Y louede feruentli on wickid men; seynge the pees of synneris.
Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
4 For biholdyng is not to the deth of hem; and stidefastnesse in the sikenesse of hem.
For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
5 Thei ben not in the trauel of men; and thei schulen not be betun with men.
They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
6 Therfore pride helde hem; thei weren hilid with her wickidnesse and vnfeithfulnesse.
For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
7 The wickidnesse of hem cam forth as of fatnesse; thei yeden in to desire of herte.
Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
8 Thei thouyten and spaken weiwardnesse; thei spaken wickidnesse an hiy.
Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
9 Thei puttiden her mouth in to heuene; and her tunge passide in erthe.
Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
10 Therfor my puple schal be conuertid here; and fulle daies schulen be foundun in hem.
For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
11 And thei seiden, How woot God; and whether kunnyng is an heiye, `that is, in heuene?
And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Lo! thilke synneris and hauynge aboundance in the world; helden richessis.
Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
13 And Y seide, Therfor without cause Y iustifiede myn herte; and waischide myn hoondis among innocentis.
As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
14 And Y was betun al dai; and my chastisyng was in morutidis.
For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
15 If Y seide, Y schal telle thus; lo! Y repreuede the nacioun of thi sones.
If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
16 I gesside, that Y schulde knowe this; trauel is bifore me.
When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
17 Til Y entre in to the seyntuarie of God; and vndurstonde in the last thingis of hem.
Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
18 Netheles for gilis thou hast put to hem; thou castidist hem doun, while thei weren reisid.
You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
19 Hou ben thei maad into desolacioun; thei failiden sodeynli, thei perischiden for her wickidnesse.
How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
20 As the dreem of men that risen; Lord, thou schalt dryue her ymage to nouyt in thi citee.
As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
21 For myn herte is enflaumed, and my reynes ben chaungid;
My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
22 and Y am dryuun to nouyt, and Y wiste not.
As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
23 As a werk beeste Y am maad at thee; and Y am euere with thee.
But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
24 Thou heldist my riythond, and in thi wille thou leddist me forth; and with glorie thou tokist me vp.
Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
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 having you I have no desire for anything on earth.
26 Mi fleische and myn herte failide; God of myn herte, and my part is God withouten ende.
My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
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.
For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with 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 it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.
