Psalm 73 - Revised Version 1885

BOOK III.

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹ Surely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

³ For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no bands in their death: But their strength is firm.

⁵ They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

⁸ They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

⁹ They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are wrung out by them.

¹¹ And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

¹² Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches

¹³ Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

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

¹⁵ If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

¹⁶ When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.

¹⁸ Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.

¹⁹ How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

²⁰ As a dream when one awaketh; So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

²¹ For my heart was grieved, And I was pricked in my reins:

²² So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee.

²³ Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

²⁴ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

²⁷ For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord GODmy refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.