Psalms 73

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¹Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

²But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

³Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

⁴For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

⁵They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

⁶For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

⁷Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

⁸Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

⁹Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

¹⁰For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

¹¹And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

¹²Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

¹³As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

¹⁴For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

¹⁵If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

¹⁶When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

¹⁷Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

¹⁸You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

¹⁹How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

²⁰As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

²¹My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

²²As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

²³But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

²⁴Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

²⁶My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

²⁷For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

²⁸But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.

Psalms 73

¹Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

²But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

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

⁴For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

⁵They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

⁶Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

⁷Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

⁸They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

⁹They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

¹⁰Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

¹¹They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

¹²Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

¹³Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,

¹⁴For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.

¹⁵If I had said, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

¹⁷Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

¹⁸Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

¹⁹How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

²⁰As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

²¹For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

²²I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

²³Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

²⁴You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.

²⁶My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.