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.[1]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[2]; 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.[3]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 deeply17till 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.
Psalm 73
English Standard Version
God Is My Strength and Portion Forever
1A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. (Ps 24:4; Ps 50:1; Joh 1:47)2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Job 21:7; Ps 37:1; Ps 37:7; Ps 92:7; Pr 23:17; Jer 12:1)4For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. (Isa 53:4)6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. (Jud 8:26; Ps 109:18)7Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. (Job 15:27)8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. (2Pe 2:18; Jud 1:16)9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.[1] (Job 15:16)11And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” (Job 22:13)12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. (Ps 73:3)13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. (Job 34:9; Ps 26:6; Ps 73:1)14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. (Ps 73:5; Ps 101:8; Re 3:19)15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. (Ps 14:5)16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, (Ec 8:17)17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. (Ps 20:2; Ps 37:38)18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. (Ps 35:6)19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! (Nu 16:21; Job 18:11)20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. (Job 20:8; Ps 78:65)21When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,22I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. (Job 11:12; Job 18:3; Ps 49:10)23Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. (Ps 41:12; Ps 63:8)24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. (Ps 32:8; Ps 49:15)25Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. (Ps 16:2; Php 3:8)26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength[2] of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps 16:5; Ps 18:2; Ps 40:12; Ps 84:2; Da 12:3)27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. (Ex 34:15; Nu 15:39; Ps 106:39; Ps 119:155; Jas 4:4)28But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (Ps 14:6; Ps 118:17; Heb 10:22; Jas 4:8)