Psalm 73
A Psalm by Asaph.
¹ Surely God1 is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
² But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
³ For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
⁴ For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
⁵ They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
⁶ Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
⁷ Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
⁸ They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
⁹ They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
¹¹ They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
¹² Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
¹³ Surely 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.
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 this, it was too painful for me—
¹⁷ until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
¹⁸ Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
¹⁹ How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
²⁰ As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord,2 when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
²¹ For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
²² I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
²⁴ You will 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.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
²⁷ For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh3 my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.