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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Psalms 73: MP1650
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 73
73
The Wicked and the Righteous Contrasted
A song of Asaph.#The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm
1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those pure of heart.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled.
My steps had nearly slipped,
3because I envied the boastful
when I saw the well-being#Or “peace” or “prosperity” of the wicked.
4For there are no pains up to their death,
and their bodies are healthy.#Literally “fat”
5They do not have ordinary trouble,#Literally “the trouble of man”
and they are not plagued as other people.#Hebrew “humankind”
6Therefore pride is their necklace;
an outfit of violence covers them.
7Their eye bulges from fat.#A slightly different Hebrew reading might be reflected in the LXX’s “their iniquity comes out of fatness”
Imaginings overflow their heart.
8They mock and speak maliciously of oppression;
they speak as though from on high.
9They set their mouth against the heavens,
and their tongue roams the earth.
10Therefore his people turn there,#That is, toward the wicked
and abundant waters are slurped up by them.
11And they say, “How does God know?”
and, “Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12See, these are the wicked,
and they increase wealth, ever carefree.
13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure,
and washed my hands in innocence.
14And I have been plagued all day
and rebuked every morning.#Literally “to the mornings”
15If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
behold, I would have acted treacherously
against your children’s generation.
16When I thought about how to understand this,
it was troubling in my eyes
17until I went into the sanctuary of God.
Then I understood their fate.
18Surely you set them on slippery places.
You cause them to fall onto ruin.#Or “fall for deceptions”
19How they become a desolation in a moment!
They come to a complete end by terrors.
20Like a dream upon awakening,
when you wake up, O Lord,
you will despise their fleeting form.#Or “image”
21When my heart was embittered
and I felt stabbed in my kidneys,
22then I was brutish and ignorant.
With you I was like the beasts.
23But I am continually with you;
you have hold of my right hand.
24You will guide me with your advice,
and afterward you will take me into honor.#Or “to glory”
25Whom do I have in the heavens except you?
And with you I have no other desire on earth.
26My flesh and heart failed,
but God is the strength#Literally “rock” of my heart and my reward forever.
27For indeed, those distancing themselves from you will be ruined.
You destroy each who abandons you for harlotry.
28But as for me, the approach to God is for my good.
I have set the Lord Yahweh as my refuge,
in order to tell all your works.
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