Psalm 73 73

₁Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

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

I had nearly lost my foothold.

₃For I envied the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

₄They have no struggles;

their bodies are healthy and strong.

₅They are free from common human burdens;

they are not plagued by human ills.

₆Therefore pride is their necklace;

they clothe themselves with violence.

₇From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

their evil imaginations have no limits.

₈They scoff, and speak with malice;

with arrogance they threaten oppression.

₉Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

and their tongues take possession of the earth.

₁₀Therefore their people turn to them

and drink up waters in abundance.

₁₁They say, ‘How would God know?

Does the Most High know anything?’

₁₂This is what the wicked are like –

always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

₁₃Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

and have washed my hands in innocence.

₁₄All day long I have been afflicted,

and every morning brings new punishments.

₁₅If I had spoken out like that,

I would have betrayed your children.

₁₆When I tried to understand all this,

it troubled me deeply

₁₇till I entered the sanctuary of God;

then I understood their final destiny.

₁₈Surely you place them on slippery ground;

you cast them down to ruin.

₁₉How suddenly are they destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors!

₂₀They are like a dream when one awakes;

when you arise, Lord,

you will despise them as fantasies.

₂₁When my heart was grieved

and my spirit embittered,

₂₂I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before you.

₂₃Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

₂₄You guide me with your counsel,

and afterwards you will take me into glory.

₂₅Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

₂₆My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion for ever.

₂₇Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

₂₈But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.