The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.
A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God certainly is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!
2 But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps 73:2 Lit were caused to sliphad almost slipped.
3 For I was envious of the 73:3 Or boastersarrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their belly is fat.
5 They are not 73:5 Lit in the trouble of peoplein trouble like other people,
Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.
6 Therefore arrogance is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye 73:7 Lit goes forthbulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart overflow.
8 They mock and 73:8 Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppressionwickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9 They have set their mouth 73:9 Or inagainst the heavens,
And their tongue 73:9 Lit walksparades through the earth.
10 Therefore 73:10 Or Hishis people return here,
And abundant waters are drunk by them.
11 They say, "How does God know?
And is there knowledge 73:11 Lit inwith the Most High?"
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have 73:13 Or cleansed my heartkept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken all day long,
And 73:14 Lit my punishmentpunished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak this way,"
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought of understanding this,
It was 73:16 Lit labor, troubletroublesome in my sight
17 Until I entered the 73:17 Lit sanctuariessanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18 You indeed put them on slippery ground;
You dropped them into 73:18 Or deceptionruin.
19 How they are 73:19 Lit become a desolationdestroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!
20 Like a dream when one awakes,
Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.
21 When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced 73:21 Lit in my kidneyswithin,
22 Then I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like an animal 73:22 Lit with Youbefore You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your plan,
And afterward receive me 73:24 Or with honorto glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the 73:26 Lit rockstrength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;
You have destroyed all those who 73:27 Lit go to a whoring fromare unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord 73:28 Heb YHWH, usually rendered LordGod my refuge,
So that I may tell of all Your works.