Psalms 73
73
PSALM 73
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Yet God is good to Israel,
to each pure-hearted one.
2But as for me, my steps near slipp'd,
my feet were almost gone.
3For I envious was, and grudg'd
the foolish folk to see,
When I perceiv'd the wicked sort
enjoy prosperity.
4For still their strength continueth firm;
their death of bands is free.
5They are not toil'd like other men,
nor plagu'd, as others be.
6Therefore their pride, like to a chain,
them compasseth about;
And, as a garment, violence
doth cover them throughout.
7Their eyes stand out with fat; they have
more than their hearts could wish.
8They are corrupt; their talk of wrong
both lewd and lofty is.
9They set their mouth against the heav'ns
in their blasphemous talk;
And their reproaching tongue throughout
the earth at large doth walk.
10His people oftentimes for this
look back, and turn about;
Sith waters of so full a cup
to these are poured out.
11And thus they say, How can it be
that God these things doth know?
Or, Can there in the Highest be
knowledge of things below?
12Behold, these are the wicked ones,
yet prosper at their will
In worldly things; they do increase
in wealth and riches still.
13I verily have done in vain
my heart to purify;
To no effect in innocence
washed my hands have I.
14For daily, and all day throughout,
great plagues I suffer'd have;
Yea, ev'ry morning I of new
did chastisement receive.
15If in this manner foolishly
to speak I would intend,
Thy children's generation,
behold, I should offend.
16When I this thought to know, it was
too hard a thing for me;
17Till to God's sanctuary I went,
then I their end did see.
18Assuredly thou didst them set
a slipp'ry place upon;
Them suddenly thou castedst down
into destruction.
19How in a moment suddenly
to ruin brought are they!
With fearful terrors utterly
they are consum'd away.
20Ev'n like unto a dream, when one
from sleeping doth arise;
So thou, O Lord, when thou awak'st,
their image shalt despise.
21Thus grieved was my heart in me,
and me my reins opprest:
22So rude was I, and ignorant,
and in thy sight a beast.
23Nevertheless continually,
O Lord, I am with thee:
Thou dost me hold by my right hand,
and still upholdest me.
24Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,
wilt me conduct and guide;
And to thy glory afterward
receive me to abide.
25Whom have I in the heavens high
but thee, O Lord, alone?
And in the earth whom I desire
besides thee there is none.
26My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,
but God doth fail me never:
For of my heart God is the strength
and portion for ever.
27For, lo, they that are far from thee
for ever perish shall;
Them that a whoring from thee go
thou hast destroyed all.
28But surely it is good for me
that I draw near to God:
In God I trust, that all thy works
I may declare abroad.
Book 3
Psalms 73—89
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 73
73
A psalm of Asaph.
1Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose minds#73:1. Literally, “hearts.” In Hebrew understanding the heart was where thinking was done. are pure.
2But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,#73:2. The psalmist is indicating he was losing faith.
3because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.
4They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
5They don't have problems like other people; they don't get hit by disasters like everybody else.
6They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.#73:7. Or “from their evil hearts pours out iniquity.”
8They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
9They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
10As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.#73:10. The Hebrew text is hard to understand: “Therefore he brings back his people here and abundant waters are drained by them.”
11“God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”
12Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
13It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.
14I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
15If I'd talked like this to others,#73:15. Referring back to what the wicked said in verse 11. I would have betrayed your people.
16So I thought about it and tried to understand,#73:16. The psalmist is trying to understand why the wicked prosper. but it looked like a lot of hard work to me—
17until I went into God's Temple. Then I understood what happens to the wicked in the end.
18For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.
19How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.
20Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!
21At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
22I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
23Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
24You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
25Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.
26My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!
27Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.
28But I love to stay close to God! I have chosen the Lord God to protect me. I will share all that you have done.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com