Psalms 73
1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.
A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those with a pure 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 almost slipped; my feet almost slipped out from under me
3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
because 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 they have no pain until their death, but they are strong and well fed.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
They are free from the burdens of other men; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck; violence clothes them like a robe.
7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
Out of such blindness comes sin; evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
They mock and speak wickedly; in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues march 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 abundant waters are drained out.
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 with the Most High?”
12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
Take notice: these people are wicked; they are always carefree, becoming richer and richer.
13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
Surely it is in vain that I have guarded 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 the day long I have been afflicted and disciplined 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 say these things,” then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
Though I tried to understand these things, it was too difficult for me.
17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
Then I went into God's sanctuary and came to understand their fate.
18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
How they become a wilderness in a moment! They come to an end and are finished in awful 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.
They are like a dream after one wakes up; Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.
21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
For my heart was grieved, and I was deeply wounded.
22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was like a senseless animal before you.
23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
Yet I am always with you; you hold 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 advice 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.
Whom have I in heaven but you? There is no one on earth that I desire but 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 grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart 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.
Those who are far from you will perish; you will destroy 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 as for me, all I need to do is to approach God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge. I will declare all your deeds.
