Psalm 73
BOOK 3
The Nearness of God Is My Good
73A Psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is agood to Israel,To those who are bpure in heart!2But as for me, amy feet had almost stumbled,My steps 1had almost slipped.3For I was aenvious of the boastful,I saw the bpeace of the wicked.4For there are no pains in their death,And their 1body is fat.5They are anot 1in trouble as other 2men,And they are not bstricken along with the rest of mankind.6Therefore lofty pride is atheir necklace;The bgarment of violence covers them.7Their eye 1bulges from afatness;The delusions of their heart overflow.8They ascoff and 1wickedly speak of oppression;They bspeak from on high.9They have aset their mouth 1against the heavens,And their tongue goes through the earth.10Therefore 1his people return here, to his place,And waters of afullness are 2drunk by them.11They say, “aHow does God know?And is there knowledge with the Most High?”12Behold, athese are the wicked;And always bat ease, they have increased in wealth.13Surely ain vain I have 1kept my heart pureAnd bwashed my hands in innocence;14For I have been stricken aall day longAnd 1,breproved every morning.15If I had said, “I will recount thus,”Behold, I would have betrayed the ageneration of Your children.16When I agave thought to know this,It was trouble in my sight17Until I came into the 1,asanctuary of God;Then I understood their bend.18Surely You set them in aslippery places;You cause them to fall to 1,bdestruction.19How they become adesolate in a moment!They are completely swept away by bterrors!20Like a adream when one awakes,O Lord, when baroused, You will cdespise their 1form.21When my aheart was embitteredAnd I was bpierced 1within,22Then I was asenseless and ignorant;I was like 1an banimal 2before You.23Nevertheless aI am continually with You;You have taken hold of my right hand.24With Your counsel You will alead me,And afterward btake me 1in glory.25aWhom have I in heaven but You?And 1besides You, I desire nothing on earth.26My aflesh and my heart fail,But God is the rock of my heart and my bportion forever.27For, behold, athose who are far from You will bperish;You have 1destroyed everyone who 2,cis unfaithful to You.28But as for me, athe nearness of God is my good;I have set Lord Yahweh as my brefuge,That I may crecount all Your works.