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.

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23 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand.(A)
24 You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory.[a](B)
25 Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.(C)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[b] of my heart,
my portion forever.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:24 Or will receive me with honor
  2. Psalm 73:26 Lit rock

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee:
Thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel,
And afterward receive me [a]to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire [b]besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth;
But God is the [c]strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:24 Or, with
  2. Psalm 73:25 Or, with thee
  3. Psalm 73:26 Hebrew rock.

23 And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.

24 With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.

25 Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.

26 Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.

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23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee;
    thou dost hold my right hand.
24 Thou dost guide me with thy counsel,
    and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory.[a]
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?
    And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength[b] of my heart and my portion for ever.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:24 Or honor
  2. Psalm 73:26 Heb rock

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 III
(Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

God’s Ways Vindicated

A psalm of Asaph.(A)

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 toward You.(W)
23 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand.(X)
24 You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward 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 forever.(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. Psalm 73:4 Lit For there are no pangs to their death
  2. Psalm 73:4 Lit fat
  3. Psalm 73:10 Lit turn here
  4. Psalm 73:10 Lit and waters of fullness are drained by them
  5. Psalm 73:15 Lit betrayed the generation of Your sons
  6. Psalm 73:16 Lit it was trouble in my eyes
  7. Psalm 73:21 Lit my kidneys
  8. Psalm 73:24 Or will receive me with honor
  9. Psalm 73:26 Lit rock

Book III

The end of the wicked contrasted with that of the righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

[a]73 Surely God is good to Israel,
Even to such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone;
My steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the [b]arrogant,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no pangs in their death;
But their strength is firm.
They are not [c]in trouble as other men;
Neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;
Violence covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness:
[d]They have more than heart could wish.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression:
They speak [e]loftily.
They have set their mouth [f]in the heavens,
And their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore [g]his people return hither:
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, How doth God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,
And washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all the day long have I been plagued,
And [h]chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus;
Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought how I might know this,
It was [i]too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God,
And considered their latter end.
18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places:
Thou castest them down to [j]destruction.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh,
So, O Lord, [k]when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my soul [l]was grieved,
And I was pricked in my [m]heart:
22 So brutish [n]was I, and ignorant;
I was as a beast [o]before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee:
Thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel,
And afterward receive me [p]to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire [q]besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth;
But God is the [r]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 play the harlot, departing from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God:
I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge,
That I may tell of all thy works.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:1 Or, Only good is God
  2. Psalm 73:3 Or, fools
  3. Psalm 73:5 Hebrew in the trouble of men.
  4. Psalm 73:7 Or, The imaginations of their heart overflow
  5. Psalm 73:8 Or, from on high
  6. Psalm 73:9 Or, against
  7. Psalm 73:10 Another reading is, he will bring back his people.
  8. Psalm 73:14 Hebrew my chastisement was.
  9. Psalm 73:16 Hebrew labor in mine eyes.
  10. Psalm 73:18 Hebrew ruins.
  11. Psalm 73:20 Or, in the city
  12. Psalm 73:21 Hebrew was in a ferment.
  13. Psalm 73:21 Hebrew reins.
  14. Psalm 73:22 Or, am
  15. Psalm 73:22 Hebrew with thee.
  16. Psalm 73:24 Or, with
  17. Psalm 73:25 Or, with thee
  18. Psalm 73:26 Hebrew rock.

73 A Psalm of Asaph. Only -- good to Israel [is] God, to the clean of heart. And I -- as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,

As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,

The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,

And their might [is] firm.

In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.

Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.

Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;

They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.

They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.

10 Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.

11 And they have said, `How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'

12 Lo, these [are] the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.

13 Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,

14 And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof [is] every morning.

15 If I have said, `I recount thus,' Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.

16 And I think to know this, Perverseness it [is] in mine eyes,

17 Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.

18 Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.

19 How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended -- consumed from terrors.

20 As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.

21 For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,

22 And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.

23 And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.

24 With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.

25 Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.

26 Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.

27 For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.

28 And I -- nearness of God to me [is] good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!

BOOK III

Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A Psalm of Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to the upright,
    to those who are pure in heart.[a]
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
    my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant,
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs;
    their bodies are sound and sleek.
They are not in trouble as other men are;
    they are not stricken like other men.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
    violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out with fatness,
    their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice;
    loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
    and their tongue struts through the earth.

10 Therefore the people turn and praise them;[b]
    and find no fault in them.[c]
11 And they say, “How can God know?
    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
    always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken,
    and chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
    I would have been untrue to the generation of thy children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this,
    it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;
    then I perceived their end.
18 Truly thou dost set them in slippery places;
    thou dost make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment,
    swept away utterly by terrors!
20 They are[d] like a dream when one awakes,
    on awaking you despise their phantoms.

21 When my soul was embittered,
    when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was stupid and ignorant,
    I was like a beast toward thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee;
    thou dost hold my right hand.
24 Thou dost guide me with thy counsel,
    and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory.[e]
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?
    And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength[f] of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish;
    thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all thy works.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:1 Or Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart
  2. Psalm 73:10 Cn: Heb his people return hither
  3. Psalm 73:10 Cn: Heb abundant waters are drained by them
  4. Psalm 73:20 Cn: Heb Lord
  5. Psalm 73:24 Or honor
  6. Psalm 73:26 Heb rock