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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

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.