Psalm 73

By Asaph

Truly God has been good to Israel,
Especially those who are pure of heart.
But as for me, my feet did almost slip;
I nearly stumbled and lost my footing,
For I came to envy the arrogant,
When I did see how much such sinners prosper.
They do not seem to struggle against death,
And their bodies are healthy and well fed.
Free of the vexations of other men,
They are not plagued by the ills of mortals.
Conceit is the chain they wear around their neck;
Violence is the garment that clothes them.
Their eyes bulge out from their obesity,
And they possess more than their hearts desire.
They scoff and sneer and speak maliciously;
Arrogantly do they pontificate;
With their talk they even challenge the heavens,
And spread their boastful words across the earth.

So it is that God’s people may turn to them,
Swallowing all the words that are spoken.
Thus they pose the questions, “How does God know?”
And “Does the Most High know what’s going on?”
Behold, this is what the wicked are like,
Ever free from care as their riches increase.

Surely I have kept my heart pure in vain,
And in vain have washed my hands in innocence.
For all the day am I made to suffer
And every morning am I punished.
(If I had deigned to speak out in this way
I would have offended your followers).
When I tried to understand all of this,
I found it a grievous and painful task,
Until I entered the Temple of God;
Then, I understood what their fate will be.

Surely you will set them on a slippery slope
And push them over the cliff to their destruction.
How quickly will they come to their utter ruin!
How completely will they be consumed by disaster!
Like a dream when one awakens, O Jehovah,
At the dawn you will dismiss them as mere phantoms.

Bitter and all torn up inside,
I was senseless and ignorant,
Like a brutish beast before you.
Yet, I always remain with you
And you hold me by the right hand.
You direct me with your counsel
And, later, receive me in glory.

Whom have I in Heaven, but you?
On earth I desire no one else.
My health and spirit may fail me,
But God is the strength of my heart
And a part of me forever.

Behold, those who pull away from you will perish,
For you bring destruction on all unfaithful to you.
But how good it is for me to draw near to God,
To make my refuge in the Master Jehovah
So that I may tell of all the works he has done.