Psalm 73:13–17

All in vain have I kept my heart clean

and washed my hands in innocence.

For all the day long I have been stricken

and rebuked every morning.

If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I discerned their end.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

and have washed my hands in innocence.

All day long I have been afflicted,

and every morning brings new punishments.

If I had spoken out like that,

I would have betrayed your children.

When I tried to understand all this,

it troubled me deeply

till I entered the sanctuary of God;

then I understood their final destiny.

Did I purify my heart

and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

For I am afflicted all day long

and punished every morning.

If I had decided to say these things aloud,

I would have betrayed your people.

When I tried to understand all this,

it seemed hopeless

until I entered God’s sanctuary.

Then I understood their destiny.

Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure,

and washed my hands in innocence.

And I have been plagued all day

and rebuked every morning.

If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

behold, I would have acted treacherously

against your children’s generation.

When I thought about how to understand this,

it was troubling in my eyes

until I went into the sanctuary of God.

Then I understood their fate.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

If I say, I will speak thus;

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

When I thought to know this,

It was too painful for me;

Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then understood I their end.