Psalm 73:1–28

¹Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.^y

²But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;^z

I had nearly lost my foothold.^a

³For I envied^b the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^c

⁴They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.^a

⁵They are free^d from common human burdens;

they are not plagued by human ills.

⁶Therefore pride^e is their necklace;^f

they clothe themselves with violence.^g

⁷From their callous hearts^h comes iniquity^b;

their evil imaginations have no limits.

⁸They scoff, and speak with malice;ⁱ

with arrogance^j they threaten oppression.^k

⁹Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth.

¹⁰Therefore their people turn to them

and drink up waters in abundance.^c

¹¹They say, “How would God know?

Does the Most High know anything?”

¹²This is what the wicked are like—

always free of care,^l they go on amassing wealth.^m

¹³Surely in vainⁿ I have kept my heart pure

and have washed my hands in innocence.^o

¹⁴All day long I have been afflicted,^p

and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵If I had spoken out like that,

I would have betrayed your children.

¹⁶When I tried to understand^q all this,

it troubled me deeply

¹⁷till I entered the sanctuary^r of God;

then I understood their final destiny.^s

¹⁸Surely you place them on slippery ground;^t

you cast them down to ruin.^u

¹⁹How suddenly^v are they destroyed,

completely swept away^w by terrors!

²⁰They are like a dream^x when one awakes;^y

when you arise, Lord,

you will despise them as fantasies.^z

²¹When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,

²²I was senseless^a and ignorant;

I was a brute beast^b before you.

²³Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.^c

²⁴You guide^d me with your counsel,^e

and afterward you will take me into glory.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you?^f

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^g

²⁶My flesh and my heart^h may fail,ⁱ

but God is the strength^j of my heart

and my portion^k forever.

²⁷Those who are far from you will perish;^l

you destroy all who are unfaithful^m to you.

²⁸But as for me, it is good to be near God.ⁿ

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^o

I will tell of all your deeds.^p