Psalms 73

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.

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

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

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

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

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

Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.

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

Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.

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

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

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

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

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

For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.

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 cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.