Psalms 73

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

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

5 They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8 They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

10 So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

11 The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12 Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

14 For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

18 Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.

19 How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

20 Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

21 When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

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

27 Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

1 ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For [there are] no bands in their death: but their strength [is] firm.

5 They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them [as] a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

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

15 ¶ If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when [one] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 So foolish [was] I, and ignorant: I was [as] a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28 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.

1 a psalm of Assaph. Israel nevertheless has GOD for comfort, who only is pure in heart.

2 And I stumbled with my feet, and my footsteps almost slipped.

3 For I was grieved with the glorifiers, when I saw that the wicked prospered.

4 For they are in no ride of death, but stand fast as a palace.

5 they are not in misfortune like other people and are not afflicted like other people.

6 Therefore their defiance shall be a good thing, and their iniquity shall be called good.

7 Their person boasteth like a fat belly; they do whatsoever they think fit.

8 They destroy all things, and speak evil of them, and talk and blaspheme greatly.

9 What they speak must be spoken from heaven: what they say must be done on earth.

10 Therefore their rabble falleth unto them, and runneth unto them with heaps like waters.

11 And say: What should GOD ask of those? What should the Most High regard of them?

12 Behold, these are the wicked: they are blessed in the world, and wax rich.

13 Is it then in vain that my heart lives blamelessly, and that I wash my hands in innocency?

14 And I am afflicted daily, and my punishment is every morning?

15 I would almost have said as they did: but, behold, I would have damned all thy children that ever were.

16 I thought after him, that I might understand; but it was too hard for me.

17 Till I entered into the sanctuary of God, and saw the end thereof.

18 But thou settest them on the slippery ground, and castest them down to the ground.

19 How are they brought to nought so suddenly! They perish and come to an end with terror.

20 As a dream when one waketh, so thou, O LORD, makest their image despised in the city.

21 But it grieveth me in my heart, and stingeth me in my kidneys,

22 That I should be a fool, and know nothing, and be as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I cleave unto thee always: for thou holdest me by my right hand,

24 Thou leadest me according to thy counsel, and receivest me at last with honour.

25 If I have thee only, I ask nothing of heaven and earth.

26 Though my body and soul languish, yet thou, O God, art ever the consolation of my heart, and my portion.

27 For, lo, they that depart from thee shall perish: thou destroyest all them that fornicate against thee.

28 But this is my joy, to cleave unto God, and to put my trust in the Lord GOD, to declare all thy doings.