Psalms 73

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

A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.

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

But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.

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

For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.

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

For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.

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

They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.

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

Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.

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

Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.

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

They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.

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 traversed the earth.

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

Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.

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

And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”

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

Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.

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

And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.

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

And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.

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

If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.

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

I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,

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

until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.

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

So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.

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

How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly 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 a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.

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

For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.

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

And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.

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

I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.

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

You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.

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

For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?

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

My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.

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, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from 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 adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.