Psalm 73:1-14

New King James Version

BOOK THREE

Psalms 73–89

The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God

A Psalm of ^(A)Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
²But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly ^(B)slipped.
³^(C)For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the ^(D)wicked.

⁴For there are no ^[a]pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
⁵^(E)They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
⁶Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them ^(F)like a garment.
⁷^(G)Their ^[b]eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
⁸^(H)They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They ^(I)speak ^[c]loftily.
⁹They set their mouth ^(J)against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.

¹⁰Therefore his people return here,
^(K)And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
¹¹And they say, ^(L)“How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
¹²Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
¹³Surely I have ^[d]cleansed my heart in ^(M)vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
¹⁴For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.