BOOK 3

PSALM 73

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely God is agood to Israel,

To those who are bpure in heart!

2 But as for me, amy feet came close to stumbling,

My steps 1had almost slipped.

3 For I was aenvious of the 1arrogant

As I saw the bprosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pains in their death,

And their 1body is fat.

5 They are anot 1in trouble as other 2men,

Nor are they bplagued 3like mankind.

6 Therefore pride is atheir necklace;

The bgarment of violence covers them.

7 Their eye 1bulges from afatness;

The imaginations of their heart 2run riot.

8 They amock and 1wickedly speak of oppression;

They bspeak from on high.

9 They have aset their mouth 1against the heavens,

And their tongue 2parades through the earth.

10 Therefore 1his people return to this place,

And waters of aabundance are 2drunk by them.

11 They say, “aHow does God know?

And is there knowledge 1with the Most High?”

12 Behold, athese are the wicked;

And always bat ease, they have increased in wealth.

13 Surely ain vain I have 1kept my heart pure

And bwashed my hands in innocence;

14 For I have been stricken aall day long

And 1bchastened every morning.

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

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

16 When I apondered to understand this,

It was 1troublesome in my sight

17 Until I came into the 1asanctuary of God;

Then I perceived their bend.

18 Surely You set them in aslippery places;

You cast them down to 1bdestruction.

19 How they are 1adestroyed in a moment!

They are utterly swept away by bsudden terrors!

20 Like a adream when one awakes,

O Lord, when baroused, You will cdespise their 1form.

21 When my aheart was embittered

And I was bpierced 1within,

22 Then I was asenseless and ignorant;

I was like 1a bbeast 2before You.

23 Nevertheless aI am continually with You;

You have taken hold of my right hand.

24 With Your counsel You will aguide me,

And afterward breceive me 1to glory.

25 aWhom have I in heaven but You?

And 1besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

26 My aflesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the 1strength of my heart and my bportion forever.

27 For, behold, athose who are far from You will bperish;

You have 1destroyed all those who 2care unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, athe nearness of God is my good;

I have made the Lord 1God my brefuge,

That I may ctell of all Your works.