Salmos 73
(En Salme af Asaf.) Visselig, god er Gud mod Israel; mod dem, der er rene af Hjertet!
Mine Fødder var nær ved at snuble, mine Skridt var lige ved at glide;
thi over Dårerne græmmed jeg mig, jeg så, at det gik de gudløse vel;
thi de kender ikke til Kvaler, deres Livskraft er frisk og sund;
de kender ikke til menneskelig Nød, de plages ikke som andre.
Derfor har de Hovmod til Halssmykke, Vold er Kappen, de svøber sig i.
Deres Brøde udgår af deres Indre, Hjertets Tanker bryder igennem.
I det dybe taler de ondt, i det høje fører de Urettens Tale,
de løfter Munden mod Himlen, Tungen farer om på Jorden.
Derfor vender mit Folk sig hid og drikker Vand i fulde Drag.
Se, det er de gudløses kår, altid i Tryghed, voksende Velstand!
Forgæves holdt jeg mit Hjerte rent og tvætted mine Hænder i Uskyld,
jeg plagedes Dagen igennem, blev revset på ny hver Morgen!
Så grundede jeg på at forstå det, møjsommeligt var det i mine Øjne,
Til jeg kom ind i Guds Helligdomme, skønned, hvordan deres Endeligt bliver:
Du sætter dem jo på glatte Steder, i Undergang styrter du dem.
Hvor brat de dog lægges øde, går under, det ender med Rædsel!
De er som en Drøm, når man vågner, man vågner og regner sit Syn for intet.
Så længe mit Hjerte var bittert og det nagede i mine Nyrer,
var jeg et Dyr og fattede intet, jeg var for dig som Kvæg.
Dog bliver jeg altid hos dig, du holder mig fast om min højre;
du leder mig med dit Råd og tager mig siden bort i Herlighed.
Hvem har jeg i Himlen? Og har jeg blot dig, da attrår jeg intet på Jorden!
Lad kun mit Kød og mit Hjerte vansmægte, Gud er mit Hjertes Klippe, min Del for evigt.
Thi de, der fjerner sig fra dig, går under, - du udsletter hver, som er dig utro.
Men at leve Gud nær er min Lykke, min Lid har jeg sat til den Herre HERREN, at jeg kan vidne om alle dine Gerninger.
[A Psalm of Asaph.] Truly God {is} good to Israel, {even} to such as are of a clean heart. {of: or, for} {Truly: or, Yet} {of...: Heb. clean of heart}
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the foolish, {when} I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For {there are} no bands in their death: but their strength {is} firm. {firm: Heb. fat}
They {are} not in trouble {as other} men; neither are they plagued like {other} men. {in...: Heb. in the trouble of other men} {like: Heb. with}
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them {as} a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. {have...: Heb. pass the thoughts of the heart}
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly {concerning} oppression: they speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full {cup} are wrung out to them.
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Behold, these {are} the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase {in} riches.
Verily I have cleansed my heart {in} vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. {chastened: Heb. my chastisement was}
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend {against} the generation of thy children.
When I thought to know this, it {was} too painful for me; {too...: Heb. labour in mine eyes}
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; {then} understood I their end.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they {brought} into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when {one} awaketh; {so}, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
So foolish {was} I, and ignorant: I was {as} a beast before thee. {ignorant: Heb. I knew not} {before Heb. with}
Nevertheless I {am} continually with thee: thou hast holden {me} by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me {to} glory.
Whom have I in heaven {but thee}? and {there is} none upon earth {that} I desire beside thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth: {but} God {is} the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. {strength: Heb. rock}
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
But {it is} good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.