Psalms 73
73
BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
A psalm by Asaph.
1God is truly good to Israel,
to those whose lives are pure.
2But my feet had almost stumbled.
They had almost slipped
3because I was envious of arrogant people
when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
4They suffer no pain.
Their bodies are healthy.
5They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people.
They are not plagued ⌞with problems⌟ like others.
6That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace
and acts of violence like clothing.
7Their eyes peer out from their fat faces,
and their imaginations run wild.
8They ridicule.
They speak maliciously.
They speak arrogantly about oppression.
9They verbally attack heaven,
and they order people around on earth.
10That is why God’s people turn to wickedness
and swallow their words.
11Then wicked people ask, “What does God know?”
“Does the Most High know anything?”
12Look how wicked they are!
They never have a worry.
They grow more and more wealthy.
13I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure
and washing my hands of any blame.
14I’m plagued ⌞with problems⌟ all day long,
and every morning my punishment ⌞begins again⌟.
15If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”
I would have betrayed God’s people.
16But when I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me.
17Only when I came into God’s holy place
did I ⌞finally⌟ understand what would happen to them.
18You put them in slippery places
and make them fall into ruin.
19They are suddenly destroyed.
They are completely swept away by terror!
20As ⌞someone⌟ gets rid of a dream when he wakes up,
so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them
when you wake up.
21When my heart was filled with bitterness
and my mind was seized ⌞with envy⌟,
22I was stupid, and I did not understand.
I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
23Yet, I am always with you.
You hold on to my right hand.
24With your advice you guide me,
and in the end you will take me to glory.
25As long as I have you,
I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
26My body and mind may waste away,
but God remains the foundation of my life
and my inheritance forever.
27Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.
You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28Being united with God is my highest good.
I have made the Almighty Lord my refuge
so that I may report everything that he has done.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Psalms 73
73
THIRD BOOK
PSALM 73
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Truly God#GodHebrew: Elohim is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart. 2But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped; 3For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked. 4For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished; 5They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like other men: 6Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them as a garment; 7Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart: 8They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily: 9They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them. 11And they say, How can ·God#GodHebrew: El know, and is there knowledge in the Most High? 12Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches. 13Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: 14For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children. 16When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes; 17Until I went into the sanctuaries of ·God#GodHebrew: El then understood I their end. 18Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins. 19How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors. 20As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
21When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins, 22Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was as a beast with thee. 23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand; 24Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me. 25Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee. 26My flesh and my heart faileth: God#GodHebrew: Elohim is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever. 27For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee. 28But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God#GodHebrew: Elohim I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.