Psalms 73

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

A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.

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

But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.

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

For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.

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

For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.

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

They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.

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

Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.

7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.

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

They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.

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

They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.

10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.

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

And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”

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

Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.

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

And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.

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

And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.

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

I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.

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

So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.

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

How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.

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

As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.

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

For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.

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

And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.

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

I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.

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

You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.

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

For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?

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

My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.

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

For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you.

28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.