Psalms 73

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

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

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

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

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

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

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

For there are no pangs in their death: but their strength is firm.

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

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they afflicted like other men.

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

Therefore pride surroundeth them as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

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

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

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

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

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

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

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

Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

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

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

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

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

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

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

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

For all the day long have I been afflicted, and chastened every morning.

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

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

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

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

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

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

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

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.

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

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

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

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

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

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

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

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

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

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast held me by my right hand.

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

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

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

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

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

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

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

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go astray from thee.

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

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.