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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

28 But 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.

Book Three

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pains in their death,
Their body is fat and pampered.

They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Therefore pride is their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].

Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires];
The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness].

They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;
They speak loftily [with malice].

They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue swaggers through the earth.(A)

10 
Therefore his people return to this place,
And waters of abundance [offered by the irreverent] are [blindly] drunk by them.
11 
They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge [of us] with the Most High?”
12 
Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who always prosper and are at ease [in the world]; they have increased in wealth.
13 
Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart
And washed my hands in innocence.(B)
14 
For all the day long have I been stricken,
And punished every morning.

15 
If I had said, “I will say this,” [and expressed my feelings],
I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16 
When I considered how to understand this,
It was too great an effort for me and too painful
17 
Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood [for I considered] their end.
18 
Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 
How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are completely swept away by sudden terrors!
20 
Like a dream [which seems real] until one awakens,
O Lord, when stirred, [You observe the wicked], You will despise their image.

21 
When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within [as with the fang of an adder],
22 
Then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to honor and glory.

25 
Whom have I in heaven [but You]?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 
For behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You.
28 
But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him,
That I may tell of all Your works.

Book Three

God Is My Strength and Portion Forever

A Psalm of (A)Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to (B)Israel,
    to those who are (C)pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had nearly slipped.
(D)For I was (E)envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the (F)prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death;
    their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are;
    they are not (G)stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is (H)their necklace;
    violence covers them as (I)a garment.
Their (J)eyes swell out through fatness;
    their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and (K)speak with malice;
    loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
    and their tongue struts through the earth.
10 Therefore his people turn back to them,
    and find (L)no fault in them.[a]
11 And they say, (M)“How can God know?
    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
    always at ease, they (N)increase in riches.
13 All in vain have I (O)kept my heart clean
    and (P)washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been (Q)stricken
    and (R)rebuked (S)every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
    I would have betrayed (T)the generation of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,
    it seemed to me (U)a wearisome task,
17 until I went into (V)the sanctuary of God;
    then I discerned their (W)end.

18 Truly you set them in (X)slippery places;
    you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed (Y)in a moment,
    swept away utterly by (Z)terrors!
20 Like (AA)a dream when one awakes,
    O Lord, when (AB)you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered,
    when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was (AC)brutish and ignorant;
    I was like (AD)a beast toward you.

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you (AE)hold my right hand.
24 You (AF)guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will (AG)receive me to glory.
25 (AH)Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 (AI)My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is (AJ)the strength[b] of my heart and my (AK)portion (AL)forever.

27 For behold, those who are (AM)far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is (AN)unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to (AO)be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my (AP)refuge,
    that I may (AQ)tell of all your works.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them
  2. Psalm 73:26 Hebrew rock

LIBRO TERCERO

El fin de los malos en contraste con el de los justos

Salmo de Asaf.

73 Ciertamente Dios es bueno para con Israel(A),
Para con los puros de corazón(B).
En cuanto a mí, mis pies estuvieron a punto de tropezar,
Casi resbalaron mis pasos(C).
Porque tuve envidia de los arrogantes(D)
Al ver la prosperidad de los impíos(E).
Porque no hay dolores en su muerte,
Y su cuerpo es robusto.
No sufren penalidades(F) como los mortales,
Ni son azotados como los demás hombres(G).
Por tanto, el orgullo es su collar(H);
El manto de la violencia los cubre(I).
Los ojos se les saltan de gordura(J);
Se desborda su corazón con sus antojos.
Se burlan(K), y con maldad hablan de opresión;
Hablan(L) desde su encumbrada posición.
Contra el cielo han puesto su boca(M),
Y su lengua se pasea por la tierra.

10 Por eso el pueblo de Dios vuelve a este lugar,
Y beben las aguas de la abundancia(N).
11 Y dicen: «¿Cómo lo sabe Dios(O)?
¿Hay conocimiento en el Altísimo?».
12 Miren, estos son los impíos,
Y, siempre desahogados(P), han aumentado sus riquezas(Q).
13 Ciertamente en vano he guardado puro mi corazón(R)
Y lavado mis manos en inocencia(S),
14 Pues he sido azotado todo el día(T)
Y castigado cada mañana(U).

15 Si yo hubiera dicho: «Así hablaré»,
Habría traicionado a la generación de Tus hijos(V).
16 Cuando pensaba, tratando de entender esto(W),
Fue difícil para mí,
17 Hasta que entré en el santuario de Dios(X);
Entonces comprendí el fin de ellos(Y).
18 Ciertamente Tú los pones en lugares resbaladizos(Z);
Los arrojas a la destrucción(AA).
19 ¡Cómo son destruidos en un momento(AB)!
Son totalmente consumidos por terrores repentinos(AC).
20 Como un sueño del que despierta(AD),
Oh Señor, cuando te levantes(AE), despreciarás su apariencia(AF).

21 Cuando mi corazón se llenó de amargura(AG),
Y en mi interior sentía punzadas(AH),
22 Entonces era yo torpe y sin entendimiento(AI);
Era como una bestia(AJ) delante de Ti.
23 Sin embargo, yo siempre estoy contigo;
Tú me has tomado de la mano derecha(AK).
24 Con Tu consejo me guiarás(AL),
Y después me recibirás en gloria(AM).

25 ¿A quién tengo yo en los cielos(AN) sino a Ti?
Fuera de Ti, nada deseo en la tierra.
26 Mi carne y mi corazón pueden desfallecer(AO),
Pero Dios es la fortaleza de mi corazón y mi porción para siempre(AP).
27 Porque los que están lejos de Ti perecerán(AQ);
Tú has destruido a todos los que te son infieles(AR).
28 Pero para mí, estar cerca de Dios es mi bien(AS);
En Dios el Señor he puesto mi refugio(AT)
Para contar todas Tus obras(AU).