Psalm 73

BOOK III

Psalms 73-89

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 slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

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

4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.t

5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquityt;
their evil imaginations have no limits.

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

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.t

11 They say, "How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?"

12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

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

14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

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

20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

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

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

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

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

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

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.