Psalm 73

God's Ways Vindicated

A psalm of Asaph.

1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.

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

4 They have an easy time until they die,
and their bodies are well fed.
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 Therefore His people turn to them
and drink in their overflowing words.
11 The wicked say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?"

12 Look at them-the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.

13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.
15 If I had decided to say these things [aloud],
I would have betrayed Your people.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless
17 until I entered God's sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.
18 Indeed, You put them in slippery places;
You make them fall into ruin.
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.

20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.

21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being was wounded,
22 I was stupid and didn't understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
23 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory.
25 Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever.
27 Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, God's presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.

Psalm 73

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

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

3 For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pangs 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 is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

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

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

9 They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

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

12 Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

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

15 If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.

18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.

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

20 As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21 For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:

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

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

24 Thou wilt 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 besides 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 play the harlot, departing from thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.