Psalm 73

Book Three (Psalms 73–89)

A psalm of Asaph.

¹Truly God is good to Israel,

to those whose hearts are pure.

²But as for me, I almost lost my footing.

My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

³For I envied the proud

when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

⁴They seem to live such painless lives;

their bodies are so healthy and strong.

⁵They don’t have troubles like other people;

they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

⁶They wear pride like a jeweled necklace

and clothe themselves with cruelty.

⁷These fat cats have everything

their hearts could ever wish for!

⁸They scoff and speak only evil;

in their pride they seek to crush others.

⁹They boast against the very heavens,

and their words strut throughout the earth.

¹⁰And so the people are dismayed and confused,

drinking in all their words.

¹¹“What does God know?” they ask.

“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

¹²Look at these wicked people—

enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

¹⁴I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

¹⁶So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

¹⁷Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

¹⁸Truly, you put them on a slippery path

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

¹⁹In an instant they are destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors.

²⁰When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹Then I realized that my heart was bitter,

and I was all torn up inside.

²²I was so foolish and ignorant—

I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

²³Yet I still belong to you;

you hold my right hand.

²⁴You guide me with your counsel,

leading me to a glorious destiny.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you?

I desire you more than anything on earth.

²⁶My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,

but God remains the strength of my heart;

he is mine forever.

²⁷Those who desert him will perish,

for you destroy those who abandon you.

²⁸But as for me, how good it is to be near God!

I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,

and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.