卷三:诗篇73—89

上帝的公正审判

亚萨的诗。

73 上帝实在善待以色列人,
恩待那些内心纯洁的人。
我却身陷险地,
几乎失脚跌倒。
我看见狂傲的恶人亨通就心怀不平。
他们一生平顺,健康强壮。
他们不像别人受苦,
不像世人遭难。
他们把骄傲作项链戴在颈上,
把暴力作外袍裹在身上。
他们胖得眼睛凸出,
心中充满罪恶。
他们讥讽嘲笑,言语恶毒,
狂妄地以暴力相威胁。
他们亵渎上天,诋毁大地。
10 上帝的子民也跟随他们,
听从他们的话。
11 他们说:
“上帝怎能知道?
至高者会察觉吗?”
12 看这些恶人,
他们总是生活安逸,财富日增。
13 我洁身自爱,保持清白,
实属徒然。
14 我天天遭灾,日日受苦。
15 要是我这样说,
我就是背叛了你的子民。
16 我想明白这一切,
却百思不得其解。
17 直到我进入你的圣所,
才明白他们的结局。
18 你把他们放在容易滑倒的地方,
使他们落入毁灭中。
19 他们顷刻间被毁灭,
在恐怖中彻底灭亡。
20 他们不过是人醒来后的一场梦。
主啊,你一行动,
他们必灰飞烟灭。
21 我曾感到悲伤,心如刀绞。
22 我当时愚昧无知,
在你面前如同畜类。
23 然而,我一直和你在一起,
你牵着我的手引导我。
24 你以谆谆教诲指引我,
以后必接我到荣耀中。
25 除你以外,在天上我还有谁?
除你以外,在地上我别无爱慕。
26 尽管我身心俱衰,
上帝永远是我心中的力量,
永远属于我。
27 那些远离你的人必灭亡,
你必灭绝不忠于你的人。
28 对于我,到上帝面前是何等美好。
我以主耶和华为我的避难所,
并宣扬祂的一切作为。

BOOK 3

The Nearness of God Is My Good

A Psalm of Asaph.

73 Surely God is (A)good to Israel,
To those who are (B)pure in heart!
But as for me, (C)my feet had almost stumbled,
My steps [a]had almost slipped.
For I was (D)envious of the boastful,
I saw the (E)peace of the wicked.
For there are no pains in their death,
And their [b]body is fat.
They are (F)not [c]in trouble as other [d]men,
And they are not (G)stricken along with the rest of mankind.
Therefore lofty pride is (H)their necklace;
The (I)garment of violence covers them.
Their eye [e]bulges from (J)fatness;
The delusions of their heart overflow.
They (K)scoff and [f]wickedly speak of oppression;
They (L)speak from on high.
They have (M)set their mouth [g]against the heavens,
And their tongue goes through the earth.

10 Therefore [h]his people return here, to his place,
And waters of (N)fullness are [i]drunk by them.
11 They say, “(O)How does God know?
And is there knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Behold, (P)these are the wicked;
And always (Q)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely (R)in vain I have [j]kept my heart pure
And (S)washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken (T)all day long
And [k](U)reproved every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will recount thus,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the (V)generation of Your children.
16 When I (W)gave thought to know this,
It was trouble in my sight
17 Until I came into the [l](X)sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their (Y)end.
18 Surely You set them in (Z)slippery places;
You cause them to fall to [m](AA)destruction.
19 How they become (AB)desolate in a moment!
They are completely swept away by (AC)terrors!
20 Like a (AD)dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when (AE)aroused, You will (AF)despise their [n]form.

21 When my (AG)heart was embittered
And I was (AH)pierced [o]within,
22 Then I was (AI)senseless and ignorant;
I was like [p]an (AJ)animal [q]before You.
23 Nevertheless (AK)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With Your counsel You will (AL)lead me,
And afterward (AM)take me [r]in glory.

25 (AN)Whom have I in heaven but You?
And [s]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My (AO)flesh and my heart fail,
But God is the rock of my heart and my (AP)portion forever.
27 For, behold, (AQ)those who are far from You will (AR)perish;
You have [t]destroyed everyone who [u](AS)is unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, (AT)the nearness of God is my good;
I have set Lord Yahweh as my (AU)refuge,
That I may (AV)recount all Your works.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:2 Lit were caused to slip
  2. Psalm 73:4 Or belly
  3. Psalm 73:5 Lit in the trouble of men
  4. Psalm 73:5 Or mortals
  5. Psalm 73:7 Lit goes forth
  6. Psalm 73:8 Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppression
  7. Psalm 73:9 Or in
  8. Psalm 73:10 Or His
  9. Psalm 73:10 Lit drained out
  10. Psalm 73:13 Or cleansed my heart
  11. Psalm 73:14 Lit my rebuking
  12. Psalm 73:17 Lit sanctuaries
  13. Psalm 73:18 Lit ruins
  14. Psalm 73:20 Or image
  15. Psalm 73:21 Lit in my kidneys
  16. Psalm 73:22 Lit animals
  17. Psalm 73:22 Lit with You
  18. Psalm 73:24 Or with honor
  19. Psalm 73:25 Or with
  20. Psalm 73:27 Or silenced
  21. Psalm 73:27 Lit goes to a whoring from

BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 Those who are far from you will perish;(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful(AO) to you.
28 But 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

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

BOOK III

(Psalms 73–89)

God’s Ways Vindicated

A psalm of Asaph.(A)

73 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.(B)
But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.(C)
For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(D)

They have an easy time until they die,[a]
and their bodies are well fed.[b](E)
They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.(F)
Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.(G)
Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(H)
They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.(I)
They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.(J)
10 Therefore his people turn to them[c]
and drink in their overflowing words.[d](K)
11 The wicked say, ‘How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything? ’(L)
12 Look at them – the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.(M)

13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(N)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.(O)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed your people.[e](P)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless[f](Q)
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.(R)
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;
you make them fall into ruin.(S)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(T)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.(U)

21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[g] was wounded,(V)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal towards you.(W)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.(X)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will take me up in glory.[h](Y)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.(Z)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[i] of my heart,
my portion for ever.(AA)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.(AB)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. 73:4 Lit For there are no pangs to their death
  2. 73:4 Lit fat
  3. 73:10 Lit turn here
  4. 73:10 Lit and waters of fullness are drained by them
  5. 73:15 Lit betrayed the generation of your sons
  6. 73:16 Lit it was trouble in my eyes
  7. 73:21 Lit my kidneys
  8. 73:24 Or will receive me with honour
  9. 73:26 Lit rock