Psalms 73
1 `The salm of Asaph. God of Israel is ful good; to hem that ben of riytful herte.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly 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.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 For Y louede feruentli on wickid men; seynge the pees of synneris.
For I was envious of the proud, 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 they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 Thei ben not in the trauel of men; and thei schulen not be betun with men.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Therfore pride helde hem; thei weren hilid with her wickidnesse and vnfeithfulnesse.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 The wickidnesse of hem cam forth as of fatnesse; thei yeden in to desire of herte.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 Thei thouyten and spaken weiwardnesse; thei spaken wickidnesse an hiy.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 Thei puttiden her mouth in to heuene; and her tunge passide in erthe.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Therfor my puple schal be conuertid here; and fulle daies schulen be foundun in hem.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 And thei seiden, How woot God; and whether kunnyng is an heiye, `that is, in heuene?
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Lo! thilke synneris and hauynge aboundance in the world; helden richessis.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up 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; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 And Y was betun al dai; and my chastisyng was in morutidis.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 If Y seide, Y schal telle thus; lo! Y repreuede the nacioun of thi sones.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 I gesside, that Y schulde knowe this; trauel is bifore me.
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 Til Y entre in to the seyntuarie of God; and vndurstonde in the last thingis of hem.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Netheles for gilis thou hast put to hem; thou castidist hem doun, while thei weren reisid.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 Hou ben thei maad into desolacioun; thei failiden sodeynli, thei perischiden for her wickidnesse.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden 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 awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 For myn herte is enflaumed, and my reynes ben chaungid;
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 and Y am dryuun to nouyt, and Y wiste not.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 As a werk beeste Y am maad at thee; and Y am euere with thee.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Thou heldist my riythond, and in thi wille thou leddist me forth; and with glorie thou tokist me vp.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last 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 thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 Mi fleische and myn herte failide; God of myn herte, and my part is God withouten ende.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, 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 who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
