Aa

BOOK 3

PSALM 73

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

A Psalm of Asaph.

1God certainly is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps Lit were caused to sliphad almost slipped.
3For I was envious of the Or boastersarrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.
5They are not Lit in the trouble of peoplein trouble like other people,
Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.
6Therefore arrogance is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7Their eye Lit goes forthbulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.
8They mock and Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppressionwickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9They have set their mouth Or inagainst the heavens,
And their tongue Lit walksparades through the earth.
10Therefore Or Hishis people return here,
And abundant waters are drunk by them.
11They say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge Lit inwith the Most High?”
12Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13Surely in vain I have Or cleansed my heartkept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
14For I have been stricken all day long,
And Lit my punishmentpunished every morning.
15If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16When I thought of understanding this,
It was Lit labor, troubletroublesome in my sight
17Until I entered the Lit sanctuariessanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18You indeed put them on slippery ground;
You dropped them into Or deceptionruin.
19How they are Lit become a desolationdestroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
20Like a dream when one awakes,
Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.
21When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced Lit in my kidneyswithin,
22Then I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like an animal Lit with Youbefore You.
23Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24You will guide me with Your plan,
And afterward receive me Or with honorto glory.
25Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the Lit rockstrength of my heart and my portion forever.
27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who Lit go to a whoring fromare unfaithful to You.
28But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod my refuge,
So that I may tell of all Your works.