Psalms 73

1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

[A Psalm by Asaph.] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

Their sin proceeds forth from fatness. Their hearts overflow with imaginations.

8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

Therefore his people turn to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

Look, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,

14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.

15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

If I had said, "I will speak thus;" look, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

How they are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away with terrors.

20 As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

As a dream when one wakes up, so, LORD, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 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.

For, look, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

28 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.

But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the LORD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works in the gates of the daughter of Zion.