Psalms 73

1 A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!

A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.

But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.

Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.

For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

5 They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.

They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.

For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.

Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.

Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.

For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

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

And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.

Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.

As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.

For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.

If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,

When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.

Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

18 Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.

You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.

How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.

As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.

As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

23 Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.

But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

24 You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.

Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

25 For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?

Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

26 My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.

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.

28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

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.