The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.
A Psalm of Asaph.
73 Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps [a]had almost slipped. 3 For I was envious of the [b]arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death, And their [c]body is fat. 5 They are not [d]in trouble as other[e]men, Nor are they plagued [f]like mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7 Their eye [g]bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart [h]run riot. 8 They mock and [i]wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9 They have set their mouth [j]against the heavens, And their tongue [k]parades through the earth.
10 Therefore [l]his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are [m]drunk by them. 11 They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge [n]with the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13 Surely in vain I have [o]kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14 For I have been stricken all day long And [p]chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. 16 When I pondered to understand this, It was [q]troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the [r]sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to [s]destruction. 19 How they are [t]destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their [u]form.
21 When my heart was embittered And I was pierced [v]within, 22 Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like[w]a beast [x]before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. 24 With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me [y]to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And [z]besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the [aa]strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have [ab]destroyed all those who [ac]are unfaithful to You. 28 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord [ad]God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.
