Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
“How does God know?” they say, “And has the Most High any knowledge?”
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
28 As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.
But I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
