Psalmorum 73
1 Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israel Deus his, qui recto sunt corde!
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes: pene effusi sunt gressus mei.
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
3 Quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 Quia non est respectus morti eorum: et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur:
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 Ideo tenuit eos superbia, operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum: transierunt in affectum cordis.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 Cogitaverunt, et locuti sunt nequitiam: iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 Posuerunt in cælum os suum: et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 Ideo convertetur populus meus hic: et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?
And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo, obtinuerunt divitias.
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 Et dixi: Ergo sine causa iustificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas:
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 Et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 Si dicebam: Narrabo sic: ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc, labor est ante me:
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 Donec intrem in Sanctuarium Dei: et intelligam in novissimis eorum.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis: deiecisti eos dum allevarentur.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem, subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
20 Velut somnium surgentium Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt:
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Ut iumentum factus sum apud te: et ego semper tecum.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 Tenuisti manum dexteram meam: et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
25 Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?
Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 Defecit caro mea et cor meum: Deus cordis mei, et pars mea Deus in æternum.
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Quia ecce, qui elongant se a te, peribunt: perdidisti omnes, qui fornicantur abs te.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
28 Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est: ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annunciem omnes prædicationes tuas, in portis filiæ Sion.
But, as for me, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount all thy works.
