Psalms 73 — ULB

A psalm of Asaph.

73Verse 1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those with a pure heart.
^{Verse 2}But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my feet almost slipped out from under me
^{Verse 3}because I was envious of the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
^{Verse 4}For they have no pain until their death,
but they are strong and well fed.
^{Verse 5}They are free from the burdens of other men;
they are not afflicted like other men.
^{Verse 6}Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck;
violence clothes them like a robe.
^{Verse 7}Out of such blindness comes sin;
evil thoughts pass through their hearts.
^{Verse 8}They mock and speak wickedly;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
^{Verse 9}They set their mouth against the heavens,
and their tongues march through the earth.
^{Verse 10}Therefore his people turn to them
and abundant waters are drained out.
^{Verse 11}They say, “How does God know?
Is there knowledge with the Most High?”
^{Verse 12}Take notice: these people are wicked;
they are always carefree, becoming richer and richer.
^{Verse 13}Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart
and washed my hands in innocence.
^{Verse 14}For all the day long I have been afflicted
and disciplined every morning.
^{Verse 15}If I had said, “I will say these things,”
then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.
^{Verse 16}Though I tried to understand these things,
it was too difficult for me.
^{Verse 17}Then I went into God's sanctuary
and came to understand their fate.
^{Verse 18}Surely you put them in slippery places;
you bring them down to ruin.
^{Verse 19}How they become a wilderness in a moment!
They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.
^{Verse 20}They are like a dream after one wakes up;Lord, when you arise, you will think nothing of those dreams.^{Verse 21}For my heart was grieved,
and I was deeply wounded.
^{Verse 22}I was ignorant and lacked insight;
I was like a senseless animal before you.
^{Verse 23}Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.
^{Verse 24}You will guide me with your advice
and afterward receive me to glory.
^{Verse 25}Whom have I in heaven but you?
There is no one on earth that I desire but you.
^{Verse 26}My flesh and my heart grow weak,
but God is the strength of my heart forever.
^{Verse 27}Those who are far from you will perish;
you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.
^{Verse 28}But as for me, all I need to do is to approach God.
I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge.
I will declare all your deeds.