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
Psalm 73
This is a psalm that Asaph wrote.
God has helped me to understand #73:1 This is a psalm by Asaph, or his group. The writer saw that bad people often had plenty of money. They did not have trouble in their lives. Would it be better for him to be bad? Then he went into God's house. There he understood that bad people were not really in a good, safe place, as it seemed. God would take care of his own people, even if they had problems.
1God is truly good to the people of Israel,
to people who want to serve him honestly.
2But this is what happened to me:
I nearly slipped and fell over.
I could no longer stand properly.
3When I saw that wicked people had plenty of things,
I was jealous of those proud people.
4Their bodies are fat and strong,
and they feel no pain in their lives.
5They do not have trouble like other people.
They seem to have no problems.
6Their pride is like their necklace.
They like to be cruel,
as they like to wear clothes.
7Their greedy eyes lead them into sin.
Their minds think of evil things to do.
8They laugh at people
and they say bad things about them.
They proudly speak about cruel things
that they want to do to people.
9They think that they rule in heaven,
as well as on the earth!
10As a result, God's people become confused,
and they listen to them.
They think that everything is true
that those wicked people say. #73:10 This is a difficult verse to understand in Hebrew.
11They say, ‘Does God really know what we do?
Does the Most High God know everything?’
12Take a good look,
and see how wicked those people are!
They have no troubles,
and they become richer and richer.
13I decided that I had tried to do what is right,
but it did not help me at all!
I had refused to do anything wrong,
for no good reason!
14I had trouble each and every day.
Punishment came to me every morning!
15If I had spoken aloud things like that,
I would have turned against your own people.
16When I thought about all this,
it was so hard for me to understand.
17But I went into your temple, God.
Then I understood what would happen
to wicked people in the end.
18Yes, I realized that they are in a dangerous place,
where they will easily slip.
You will cause them to fall down to their death.
19It will take just a moment to destroy them!
Great fear will sweep them away!
20They will completely disappear,
like a dream disappears after you wake up.
Lord, when you decide to do something,
you will forget that they were there!
21I was very upset,
and my thoughts were confused.
22I was stupid,
and I did not understand you properly.
I was no better than an animal.
23But I am always near to you.
You hold my right hand,
as my guide.
24You teach me the right way to go,
and you will lead me to glory. #73:24 For the writer of the psalm, this probably meant that people would respect him again as a good person. But it also means that God will take his people to heaven to be with him for ever.
25You are the only one in heaven or on earth
that I need to help me.
You are the only one that I want.
26My body and my mind may become weak,
but God will always keep me safe and strong.
27Those people who stay far away from you will die.
You destroy everybody who turns away from you.
28But as for me, it is good for me to stay near to God.
I have gone to the Almighty Lord
as the place where I can be safe.
I will tell people about the great things that you have done.
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