Psalms 73

¹Surely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart. ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped. ³For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm. ⁵They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men. ⁶Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment. ⁷Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish. ⁸They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily. ⁹They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. ¹⁰Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are drained by them. ¹¹And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? ¹²Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches. ¹³Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency; ¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.

¹⁵If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children. ¹⁶When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me; ¹⁷Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end. ¹⁸Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction. ¹⁹How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. ²⁰As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

²¹For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart: ²²So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee. ²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand. ²⁴Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. ²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. ²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee. ²⁸But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.