Psalm 73

New International Version

BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

¹Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.^(A)

²But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;^(B)
I had nearly lost my foothold.^(C)
³For I envied^(D) the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(E)

⁴They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
⁵They are free^(F) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶Therefore pride^(G) is their necklace;^(H)
    they clothe themselves with violence.^(I)
⁷From their callous hearts^(J) comes iniquity^[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸They scoff, and speak with malice;^(K)
    with arrogance^(L) they threaten oppression.^(M)
⁹Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
¹¹They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹²This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care,^(N) they go on amassing wealth.^(O)

¹³Surely in vain^(P) I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.^(Q)
¹⁴All day long I have been afflicted,^(R)
and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶When I tried to understand^(S) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
¹⁷till I entered the sanctuary^(T) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.^(U)

¹⁸Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(V)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(W)
¹⁹How suddenly^(X) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(Y) by terrors!
²⁰They are like a dream^(Z) when one awakes;^(AA)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(AB)

²¹When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
²²I was senseless^(AC) and ignorant;
I was a brute beast^(AD) before you.

²³Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(AE)
²⁴You guide^(AF) me with your counsel,^(AG)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you?^(AH)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(AI)
²⁶My flesh and my heart^(AJ) may fail,^(AK)
    but God is the strength^(AL) of my heart
    and my portion^(AM) forever.

²⁷Those who are far from you will perish;^(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(AO) to you.
²⁸But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(AP)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(AQ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(AR)

Footnotes

Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

1 Kings 19:8-21

New International Version

⁸So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty^(A) days and forty nights until he reached Horeb,^(B) the mountain of God. ⁹There he went into a cave^(C) and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”^(D)

¹⁰He replied, “I have been very zealous^(E) for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant,^(F) torn down your altars,^(G) and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(H) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹¹The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain^(I) in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”^(J)

Then a great and powerful wind^(K) tore the mountains apart and shattered^(L) the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake came a fire,^(M) but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.^(N) ¹³When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face^(O) and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left,^(P) and now they are trying to kill me too.”

¹⁵The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael^(Q) king over Aram. ¹⁶Also, anoint^(R) Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha^(S) son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah^(T) to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael,^(U) and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.^(V) ¹⁸Yet I reserve^(W) seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed^(X) him.”

The Call of Elisha

¹⁹So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak^(Y) around him. ²⁰Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,”^(Z) he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

²¹So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen^(AA) and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.^(AB)

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Philippians 4:8-23

New International Version

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.^(A) And the God of peace^(B) will be with you.

Thanks for Their Gifts

¹⁰I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.^(C) Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content^(D) whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,^(E) whether living in plenty or in want.^(F) ¹³I can do all this through him who gives me strength.^(G)

¹⁴Yet it was good of you to share^(H) in my troubles. ¹⁵Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days^(I) of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia,^(J) not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;^(K) ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica,^(L) you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.^(M) ¹⁷Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^(N) ¹⁸I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(O) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(P) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs^(Q) according to the riches of his glory^(R) in Christ Jesus.

²⁰To our God and Father^(S) be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(T)

Final Greetings

²¹Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me^(U) send greetings. ²²All God’s people^(V) here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ^(W) be with your spirit.^(X) Amen.^[a]

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