Psalms 73

1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Surely God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, 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 For I was envious of 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 struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

Therefore pride is as a chain around their neck. Violence covers them as a garment.

7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish.

8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression. They speak loftily.

9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

They have set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

Behold, these are the wicked, and those who always prosper. They have possessed wealth.

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,

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

14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.

for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

If I had said, I will speak thus, behold, I would have dealt treacherously with the generation of thy sons.

16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—

When I thought how I might understand this, it was too painful for me,

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

until I went into the sanctuary of God, and considered their latter end.

18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

Surely thou set them in slippery places. Thou cast them down to destruction.

19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

As a dream from awakening, O Lord, when thou waken, thou will despise their form.

21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

For my soul was grieved, and I was pricked in my heart.

22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

So I was brutish, and ignorant. I was a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee. Thou have held my right hand.

24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Thou will guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

Whom have I in heaven? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

For, lo, those who are far from thee shall perish. Thou have destroyed all those who go a whoring from thee.

28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have made the lord Jehovah my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.