BOOK THREE: Psalms 73—89
The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God
A Psalm of Ps. 50:titleAsaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly Job 12:5slipped.
3 Ps. 37:1, 7; (Prov. 23:17)For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the Job 21:5–16; Jer. 12:1wicked.
4 For thereare no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 Job 21:9They are not in trouble asother men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them Ps. 109:18like a garment.
7 Job 15:27; Jer. 5:28Their eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
8 Ps. 53:1They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They 2 Pet. 2:18; Jude 16speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth Rev. 13:6against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here,
(Ps. 75:8)And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, Job 22:13"How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart inJob 21:15; 35:3; Mal. 3:14vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their (Ps. 37:38; 55:23)end.
18 Surely Ps. 35:6You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 Ps. 92:6I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 Ps. 32:8; 48:14; Is. 58:11You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 (Phil. 3:8)Whom have I in heaven butYou?
And thereis none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 Ps. 84:2My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my Ps. 16:5portion forever.
27 For indeed, (Ps. 119:155)those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But itis good for me to (Heb. 10:22; James 4:8)draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord God,
That I may Ps. 116:10; 2 Cor. 4:13declare all Your works.