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 of a clean heart.
2 But my feet weren moued almeest; my steppis weren sched out almeest.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For Y louede feruentli on wickid men; seynge the pees of synneris.
For I was envious at the foolish, [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.
For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.
5 Thei ben not in the trauel of men; and thei schulen not be betun with men.
They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 Therfore pride helde hem; thei weren hilid with her wickidnesse and vnfeithfulnesse.
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.
7 The wickidnesse of hem cam forth as of fatnesse; thei yeden in to desire of herte.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 Thei thouyten and spaken weiwardnesse; thei spaken wickidnesse an hiy.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily.
9 Thei puttiden her mouth in to heuene; and her tunge passide in erthe.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therfor my puple schal be conuertid here; and fulle daies schulen be foundun in hem.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.
11 And thei seiden, How woot God; and whether kunnyng is an heiye, `that is, in heuene?
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Lo! thilke synneris and hauynge aboundance in the world; helden richessis.
Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.
13 And Y seide, Therfor without cause Y iustifiede myn herte; and waischide myn hoondis among innocentis.
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 And Y was betun al dai; and my chastisyng was in morutidis.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If Y seide, Y schal telle thus; lo! Y repreuede the nacioun of thi sones.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.
16 I gesside, that Y schulde knowe this; trauel is bifore me.
When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me;
17 Til Y entre in to the seyntuarie of God; and vndurstonde in the last thingis of hem.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Netheles for gilis thou hast put to hem; thou castidist hem doun, while thei weren reisid.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 Hou ben thei maad into desolacioun; thei failiden sodeynli, thei perischiden for her wickidnesse.
How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As the dreem of men that risen; Lord, thou schalt dryue her ymage to nouyt in thi citee.
As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 For myn herte is enflaumed, and my reynes ben chaungid;
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 and Y am dryuun to nouyt, and Y wiste not.
So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 As a werk beeste Y am maad at thee; and Y am euere with thee.
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [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.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.
25 For whi what is to me in heuene; and what wolde Y of thee on erthe?
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.
26 Mi fleische and myn herte failide; God of myn herte, and my part is God withouten ende.
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
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, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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 draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
