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. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 almost slipped.
3 through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
For I was envious at the foolish, 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 pangs 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 afflicted like other men.
6 So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
Therefore pride surroundeth them as a chain; 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 are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
They set their mouth against 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 here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, 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 afflicted, and chastened every morning.
15 But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
When I thought to 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; then I understood their end.
18 Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou didst cast them down into destruction.
19 One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
How are they brought into desolation, as 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
Thus 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 foolish 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 held me by 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 besides 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 astray 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 to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
