BOOK 3
Psalm 73
A Psalm by Asaph.
1 Surely God
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,
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 GOD
my refuge,
that I may tell
of all your
works.