Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Book Three

Psalm 73

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹ Truly God is [only] good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped.

³ For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

⁵ They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they smitten and plagued like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].

⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow [with follies].

⁸ They scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily [from on high, maliciously and blasphemously].

⁹ They set their mouths against and speak down from heaven, and their tongues swagger through the earth [invading even heaven with blasphemy and smearing earth with slanders].^(A)

¹⁰ Therefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup [offered by the wicked] are [blindly] drained by them.

¹¹ And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?

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

¹³ Surely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency.

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

¹⁵ Had I spoken thus [and given expression to my feelings], I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.

¹⁶ But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful

¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end.

¹⁸ [After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction.

¹⁹ How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!

²⁰ As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.

²¹ For my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart [as with the sharp fang of an adder].

²² So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold 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 I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.

²⁷ For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You will destroy all who are false to You and like [spiritual] harlots depart from You.

²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

7 Thus the Lord God showed me [Amos], and behold, He formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the second crop, and behold, it was the second crop after the king’s mowings.

² And when [the locusts] had finished eating the plants of the land, then I said, O Lord God, forgive, I pray You. How can Jacob stand? For he is so small!

³ The Lord relented and revoked this sentence: It shall not take place, said the Lord [and He was eased and comforted concerning it].

⁴ Thus the Lord God showed me, and behold, the Lord God called for punishment with fire, and it devoured the great deep and would have eaten up the land.

⁵ Then said I, O Lord God, cease, I pray You! How can Jacob stand? He is so little!

⁶ The Lord relented and revoked this sentence: This also shall not be, said the Lord [and He was eased and comforted concerning it].

¹⁸ This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, ^[a]in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,

¹⁹ Holding fast to faith (^[b]that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of their faith.

²⁰ Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme.