PART THIRD¹

PSALM 73

A Psalm of Asaph

1 Yet God is good to Israel, To those who are right in heart.

2 As for me, wellnigh slipped had my feet, My steps were almost gone:

3 For I was envious at the foolish, On seeing the prosperity of the ungodly.

4 For there are no bands to their death, And vigorous is their strength.

5 In the [common] trouble of man they are not; And with other men they are not scourged.

6 Therefore encompass them as a chain doth pride; Covered them hath the raiment of violence.

7 Their eye projecteth through fatness; They have passed beyond the thoughts of their heart.

8 They break forth, and talk wickedly of extortion: From on high do they speak.

9 They have set against the heaven their mouth, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 On this account his people will return hither, And waters of a full cup will be wrung out to them.

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

12 Behold these are the ungodly, and [yet]. they are in quiet for ever: They heap up riches.

13 Surely in vain I have purified my heart, And washed every day my hands:

14 And I have been scourged every day, And my chastisement [has been] every morning.

15 If I have said, "I will speak thus," Behold! the generation of thy children: I have transgressed.

16 And although I applied my mind to know this, A pain fill thing it was in mine eyes,

17 Until I entered into the sanctuaries of God, And understood their end.

18 Surely in slippery places thou hast set them; Thou shalt east them down into destructions.

19 How have they been destroyed as in a moment! They have perished, they have been consumed with terrors.

20 As it were a dream after a man is awakened; O Lord! in awaking, their image thou wilt render contemptible.

21 For in a ferment was my heart, And in my reins I was pierced.

22 And I myself [was] foolish and knew not any thing; As the beasts have I been before thee.

23 Nevertheless I have been continually with thee; Thou hast held my right hand.

24 With thy counsel thou shalt guide me; And at length to glory thou shalt take me.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And another with time I have not desired on the earth.

26 Failed have my flesh and my heart; But the strength of my heart and my portion is God for ever.

27 For lo! those who depart from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed every one who goeth a whoring from thee.

28 As for me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Jehovah my trust, That I may tell of all thy works.