Psalms 73

1A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!

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

3For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

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

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

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

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

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

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

28But 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.