Psalms 73
73
BOOK III
(Psalms 73–89)
God’s Ways Vindicated
A psalm of Asaph. # 1Ch 16:5,7
1God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart. # Ps 24:4; 51:10; Mt 5:8
2But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray. # Ps 17:5; 66:9; 94:18
3For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked. # Ps 37:1; Pr 23:17; 24:1
4They have an easy time until they die, # Lit For there are no pangs to their death
and their bodies are well fed. # Lit fat # Jb 21:23-24
5They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people. # Jb 21:4
6Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment. # Ps 37:35; Pr 16:29; 21:24
7Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild. # Jb 15:27; Jr 5:28
8They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression. # Ps 17:10; 2Pt 2:18; Jd 16
9They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth. # Rv 13:6
10Therefore His people turn to them # Lit turn here
and drink in their overflowing words. # Lit and waters of fullness are drained by them # Jb 15:16
11The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything? ” # Jb 22:13; Ps 10:4,11; Is 29:15
12Look at them — the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth. # Ps 49:6; 52:7; Jr 49:31
13Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing? # Ps 26:6; Mt 27:24
14For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning. # Jb 33:19; Ps 38:6; 118:18
15If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed Your people. # Lit betrayed the generation of Your sons # Ps 44:17; 89:33
16When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless # Lit it was trouble in my eyes # Ec 8:17
17until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny. # Jb 8:13; Ps 37:38
18Indeed, You put them in slippery places;
You make them fall into ruin. # Ps 35:6,8
19How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors. # Nm 16:21; Jb 18:11; Is 47:11
20Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, You will despise their image. # Ps 35:23; 59:5; 78:65
21When I became embittered
and my innermost being # Lit my kidneys was wounded, # Ps 109:22
22I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You. # Jb 11:12; Ps 92:6
23Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. # Ps 63:8
24You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory. # Or will receive me with honor # Ps 49:15; Is 58:11
25Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You. # Ps 16:2; Php 3:8
26My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength # Lit rock of my heart,
my portion forever. # Ps 16:5; 38:10; 84:2
27Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You. # 1Ch 5:25; Ps 37:20
28But 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. # Ps 40:5; 118:17
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Psalm 73
73
Book Three
God Is My Strength and Portion Forever
A Psalm of #See Ps. 50, titleAsaph.
1Truly God is good to #John 1:47 Israel,
to those who are #See Ps. 24:4pure in heart.
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 # See Job 21:7 For I was #Ps. 37:1; Prov. 23:17 envious of the arrogant
when I saw the #[Ps. 37:7; 92:7; Jer. 12:1]prosperity of the wicked.
4For they have no pangs until death;
their bodies are fat and sleek.
5They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not #[Isa. 53:4]stricken like the rest of mankind.
6Therefore pride is #[Judg. 8:26] their necklace;
violence covers them as #[Ps. 109:18]a garment.
7Their #See Job 15:27eyes swell out through fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8They scoff and #[2 Pet. 2:18; Jude 16]speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.
10Therefore his people turn back to them,
and find #[Job 15:16]no fault in them.#73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them
11And they say, #See Job 22:13“How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12Behold, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they #[ver. 3]increase in riches.
13All in vain have I #[ver. 1]; See Job 34:9 kept my heart clean
and #See Ps. 26:6washed my hands in innocence.
14For all the day long I have been #[See ver. 5 above] stricken
and #Rev. 3:19 rebuked #[Ps. 101:8]every morning.
15If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
I would have betrayed #[Ps. 14:5]the generation of your children.
16But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me #Eccles. 8:17a wearisome task,
17until I went into #Ps. 20:2 the sanctuary of God;
then I discerned their #Ps. 37:38end.
18Truly you set them in #Ps. 35:6slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19How they are destroyed #[Num. 16:21] in a moment,
swept away utterly by #See Job 18:11terrors!
20Like #See Job 20:8 a dream when one awakes,
O Lord, when #Ps. 78:65you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22I was #See Ps. 49:10 brutish and ignorant;
I was like #Job 18:3; [Job 11:12]a beast toward you.
23Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you #Ps. 63:8; [Ps. 41:12]hold my right hand.
24You #Ps. 32:8 guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will #See Ps. 49:15receive me to glory.
25 #
Ps. 16:2; [Phil. 3:8] Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 #
Ps. 40:12; See Ps. 84:2 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is #Ps. 18:2 the strength#73:26 Hebrew rock of my heart and my #See Ps. 16:5 portion #[Dan. 12:3]forever.
27For behold, those who are #Ps. 119:155 far from you shall perish;
you put an end to everyone who is #Ps. 106:39; Ex. 34:15; Num. 15:39; James 4:4unfaithful to you.
28But for me it is good to #James 4:8; [Heb. 10:22] be near God;
I have made the Lord God my #See Ps. 14:6 refuge,
that I may #See Ps. 118:17tell of all your works.
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