Psalm 73 - Modern English Version

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹ Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had almost slipped.

³ For I was envious of the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

⁵ They are not in trouble as other men are, nor are they plagued like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.

⁷ Their eyes bulge with fatness; they have more than a heart could wish.

⁸ They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak loftily.

⁹ They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue parades through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore his people return here, and waters of abundance are drunk by them.

¹¹ They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

¹² Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

¹³ Surely I have kept my heart clean in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴ For all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

¹⁶ When I thought how to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight,

¹⁷ until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

¹⁸ Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

¹⁹ How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed by terrors!

²⁰ Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when awakened, You will despise their image.

²¹ When my heart was embittered, and I was pierced in my heart,

²² I was foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

²³ Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have held me by my right hand.

²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works.