Psalms 73
1 `The salm of Asaph. God of Israel is ful good; to hem that ben of riytful herte.
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 But my feet weren moued almeest; my steppis weren sched out almeest.
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 Y louede feruentli on wickid men; seynge the pees of synneris.
For I was envious at 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.
For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
5 Thei ben not in the trauel of men; and thei schulen not be betun with men.
They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 Therfore pride helde hem; thei weren hilid with her wickidnesse and vnfeithfulnesse.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 The wickidnesse of hem cam forth as of fatnesse; thei yeden in to desire of herte.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 Thei thouyten and spaken weiwardnesse; thei spaken wickidnesse an hiy.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 Thei puttiden her mouth in to heuene; and her tunge passide in erthe.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 Therfor my puple schal be conuertid here; and fulle daies schulen be foundun in hem.
Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And thei seiden, How woot God; and whether kunnyng is an heiye, `that is, in heuene?
And they say, How should 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 wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 And Y seide, Therfor without cause Y iustifiede myn herte; and waischide myn hoondis among innocentis.
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 And Y was betun al dai; and my chastisyng was in morutidis.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 If Y seide, Y schal telle thus; lo! Y repreuede the nacioun of thi sones.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 I gesside, that Y schulde knowe this; trauel is bifore me.
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 Til Y entre in to the seyntuarie of God; and vndurstonde in the last thingis of hem.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 Netheles for gilis thou hast put to hem; thou castidist hem doun, while thei weren reisid.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall 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 perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
20 As the dreem of men that risen; Lord, thou schalt dryue her ymage to nouyt in thi citee.
As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 For myn herte is enflaumed, and my reynes ben chaungid;
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 and Y am dryuun to nouyt, and Y wiste not.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with 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 seized hold of 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.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
25 For whi what is to me in heuene; and what wolde Y of thee on erthe?
Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 Mi fleische and myn herte failide; God of myn herte, and my part is God withouten ende.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God 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, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away 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 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.
