Psalms 73
1 BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had slipped.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 And they say, How should God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked; and yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
17 Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, lo, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
