Psalmorum 73
1 Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israel Deus his, qui recto sunt corde!
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes: pene effusi sunt gressus mei.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 Quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 Quia non est respectus morti eorum: et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur:
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Ideo tenuit eos superbia, operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum: transierunt in affectum cordis.
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 Cogitaverunt, et locuti sunt nequitiam: iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 Posuerunt in cælum os suum: et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Ideo convertetur populus meus hic: et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?
‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
12 Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo, obtinuerunt divitias.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 Et dixi: Ergo sine causa iustificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas:
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 Et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 Si dicebam: Narrabo sic: ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc, labor est ante me:
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 Donec intrem in Sanctuarium Dei: et intelligam in novissimis eorum.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis: deiecisti eos dum allevarentur.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem, subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 Velut somnium surgentium Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt:
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Ut iumentum factus sum apud te: et ego semper tecum.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 Tenuisti manum dexteram meam: et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
25 Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?
Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 Defecit caro mea et cor meum: Deus cordis mei, et pars mea Deus in æternum.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 Quia ecce, qui elongant se a te, peribunt: perdidisti omnes, qui fornicantur abs te.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
28 Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est: ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annunciem omnes prædicationes tuas, in portis filiæ Sion.
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.
