Psalm 73:12–16

12 This is what the wicked are like—

always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

and have washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been afflicted,

and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,

I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,

it troubled me deeply

12 Behold, these are the ungodly,

Who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus;

Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this,

It was too painful for me;

12 Look at these wicked people—

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

15 If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

12 Behold, these are the ungodly,

Who are always at ease;

They increase in riches.

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all day long I have been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 When I thought how to understand this,

It was too painful for me—

12 These people are wicked,

always at ease, and getting richer.

13 So why have I kept my heart pure?

Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?

14 I have suffered all day long;

I have been punished every morning.

15 God, if I had decided to talk like this,

I would have let your people down.

16 I tried to understand all this,

but it was too hard for me to see

12 Behold, these are the wicked;

And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,

And washed my hands in innocency;

14 For all the day long have I been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, I will speak thus;

Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought how I might know this,

It was too painful for me;

12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches. 13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: 14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

12 Look how wicked they are! 

They never have a worry. 

They grow more and more wealthy. 

13 I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure 

and washing my hands of any blame. 

14 I’m plagued ⸤with problems⸥ all day long, 

and every morning my punishment ⸤begins again⸥. 

15 If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,” 

I would have betrayed God’s people. 

16 But when I tried to understand this, 

it was too difficult for me. 

12 Look at them—the wicked!

They are always at ease,

and they increase their wealth.

13 Did I purify my heart

and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

14 For I am afflicted all day long

and punished every morning.

15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,

I would have betrayed Your people.

16 When I tried to understand all this,

it seemed hopeless

12 Such are the wicked;

always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean

and washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all day long I have been plagued

and am punished every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,”

I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

12 See, these are the wicked,

and they increase wealth, ever carefree.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure,

and washed my hands in innocence.

14 And I have been plagued all day

and rebuked every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

behold, I would have acted treacherously

against your children’s generation.

16 When I thought about how to understand this,

it was troubling in my eyes

12 Here is what sinful people are like.

They don’t have a care in the world.

They keep getting richer and richer.

13 It seems as if I have kept my heart pure without any reason.

It didn’t do me any good to wash my hands

to show that I wasn’t guilty of doing anything wrong.

14 Day after day I’ve been in pain.

God has punished me every morning.

15 What if I had said, “I will speak as evil people do”?

Then I wouldn’t have been faithful to God’s children.

16 I tried to understand it all.

But it was more than I could handle.

12 Behold, these are the wicked;

And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

And washed my hands in innocence;

14 For I have been stricken all day long

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16 When I pondered to understand this,

It was troublesome in my sight