Psalms — Chapter 73

1A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

5They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.

19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

20Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

21When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

23Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

1Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

1Surely God is good to Israel, [Even] to such as are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.

3For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.

5They are not in trouble as [other] men; Neither are they plagued like [other] men.

6Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

7Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

8They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

9They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them.

11And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

12Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

14For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

15If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

17Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.

18Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.

19How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:

22So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.

23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

24Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

26My flesh and my heart faileth; [But] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee.

28But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works. Psalm 74 Maschil of Asaph.

1A psalm by Asaph. Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure.

2But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.

3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

4For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well fed.

5They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do.

6Arrogance is their necklace, and violence covers them like clothing.

7Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.

8They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence.

9They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.

10Therefore they have more than enough food to eat and even suck up the water of the sea.

11They say, “How does God know what we do? Is the Most High aware of what goes on?”

12Take a good look. This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.

13I concluded, “Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.

14I suffer all day long and am punished every morning.”

15If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your people.

16When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.

17Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple and understood the destiny of the wicked.

18Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.

19How desolate they become in a mere moment. Terrifying judgments make their demise complete.

20They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.

21Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain.

22I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.

23But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

24You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.

25Whom do I have in heaven but you? On earth there is no one I desire but you.

26My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.

27Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.

1Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

5They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

6Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

7Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

8They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

9They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

10Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

11They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,

14For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

17Until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

18Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

19How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

20As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

21For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

22I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

23Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

24You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

28But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.