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BOOK 3

A Psalm by Asaph.

73 Surely God[a] is good to Israel,
    to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone.
    My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant,
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no struggles in their death,
    but their strength is firm.
They are free from burdens of men,
    neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.
    Violence covers them like a garment.
Their eyes bulge with fat.
    Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
They scoff and speak with malice.
    In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
They have set their mouth in the heavens.
    Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them,
    and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 They say, “How does God know?
    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked.
    Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
    and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
    and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”;
    behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand this,
    it was too painful for me,
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary,
    and considered their latter end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places.
    You throw them down to destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed!
    They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up,
    so, Lord,[b] when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my soul was grieved.
    I was embittered in my heart.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant.
    I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
    You have held my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven?
    There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart fails,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
    You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God.
    I have made the Lord Yahweh[c] my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

Footnotes

  1. 73:1 The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
  2. 73:20 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”
  3. 73:28 “Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations.

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.