Psalms 73
1 A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
[A Psalm by Asaph.] Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
Their sin proceeds forth from fatness. Their hearts overflow with imaginations.
8 They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth against heauen, 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 turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
Therefore his people turn to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
Look, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
If I had said, "I will speak thus;" look, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;
17 Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
How they are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
As a dream when one wakes up, so, LORD, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.
26 My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe 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 As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.
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.
