Psalms 73

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

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 nearly slipped.

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

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

For I was envious at the foolish, 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 bands 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; neither are they plagued like other men.

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

Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; 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 are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

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

They set their mouth against 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 wrung out to 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

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

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

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

For all the day long have I 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 say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.

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

When I thought to know 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; then understood I their end.

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

Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.

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

How are they brought into desolation, as 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 when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.

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

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

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

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.

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

Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.

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

You shall guide me with your 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 but you? and there is none on earth that I desire beside you.

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 for ever.

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

For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.

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 put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.