Psalm 73

¹Surely God is good to Israel, evento 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 bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

⁵They are not in trouble as othermen; neither are they plagued like othermen.

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 cupare wrung out 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 shalt despise their image.

²¹For my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins:

²²So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was asa beast before thee.

²³Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.

²⁴Thou shalt 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 beside thee.

²⁶My flesh and my heart faileth: butGod 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 go a whoring from thee.

²⁸But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.