Psalms 73

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

1 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.

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

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

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

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

4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

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

5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

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

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

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

7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

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

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

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

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

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

10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

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

11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

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

12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

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

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

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

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

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

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

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

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

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

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

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

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

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

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

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

20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

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

26 My flesh and my heart fails, 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.

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

28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.