Psalms 73

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

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

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;

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

3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

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

4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

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

5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:

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

6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;

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

7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

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

8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

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

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

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

10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.

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

11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?

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

12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

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

13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

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

14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

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

15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.

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

16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

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

17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.

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

18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

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

19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

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

20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

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

21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

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

22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.

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

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;

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

24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

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

25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

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

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

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

27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

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

28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.

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