Psalms 73

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

BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.

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

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

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

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

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

For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.

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

In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.

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

Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.

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

Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.

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

They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.

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

They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

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

Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.

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

And they say: 'How doth 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, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.

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

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

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

For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.

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

If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.

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

And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;

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

Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their 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 settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.

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

How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.

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

As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.

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

For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.

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

But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.

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

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.

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

Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.

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 Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon 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 faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and 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, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray 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 as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.