A Psalm for Asaph.

73:1 How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!

73:2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.

73:3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.

73:4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.

73:5 They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.

73:6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.

73:7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.

73:8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

73:9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.

73:10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.

73:11 And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

73:12 Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.

73:13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.

73:14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.

73:15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.

73:16 And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,

73:17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.

73:18 Surely thou hast appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.

73:19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.

73:20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.

73:1 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

73:22 But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.

73:23 Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.

73:24 Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.

73:25 For what have I in heaven [but thee]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?

73:26 My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

73:27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.

73:28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

A Psalm of Asaph.

73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

73:4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

73:5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

73:6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

73:9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

73:10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

73:11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

73:14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

73:16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

73:18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

73:21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

73:24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

73:28 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 thy works.