Psalms 73
1 A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, [even] to such as are pure in heart.
2 But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
They are not in trouble as [other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out by them.
11 ‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
Behold, these are the wicked; and, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
If I had said, I will speak thus; behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
When I thought how I might know this, it was too painful for me;
17 till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.
18 Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
Surely thou settest them in slippery places: thou castest them down to destruction.
19 One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
For my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins:
22 show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24 By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
