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 of a clean 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 almost slipped.
3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
For I was envious at the foolish, 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 in their death: but their strength is firm.
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 other men; neither are they afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
Therefore pride surroundeth them as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
They 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 here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to 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, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
For all the day long have I been afflicted, and chastened every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood 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 didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.
19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with 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 awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
So foolish was I, 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 hast held me by my right hand.
24 You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none upon earth that I desire besides 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 flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength 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 are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed 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 it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
