Psalm 73

PART THIRD

A Psalm of Asaph

1Yet God is good to Israel, To those who are right in heart.

2As for me, wellnigh slipped had my feet, My steps were almost gone:

3For I was envious at the foolish, On seeing the prosperity of the ungodly.

4For there are no bands to their death, And vigorous is their strength.

5In the [common] trouble of man they are not; And with other men they are not scourged.

6Therefore encompass them as a chain doth pride; Covered them hath the raiment of violence.

7Their eye projecteth through fatness; They have passed beyond the thoughts of their heart.

8They break forth, and talk wickedly of extortion: From on high do they speak.

9They have set against the heaven their mouth, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10On this account his people will return hither, And waters of a full cup will be wrung out to them.

11And they say, “How doth God know? “ “And is there knowledge in the Most High?“

12Behold these are the ungodly, and [yet] they are in quiet for ever: They heap up riches.

13Surely in vain I have purified my heart, And washed every day my hands:

14And I have been scourged every day, And my chastisement [has been] every morning.

15If I have said, “I will speak thus,” Behold! the generation of thy children: I have transgressed.

16And although I applied my mind to know this, A pain fill thing it was in mine eyes,

17Until I entered into the sanctuaries of God, And understood their end.

18Surely in slippery places thou hast set them; Thou shalt east them down into destructions.

19How have they been destroyed as in a moment! They have perished, they have been consumed with terrors.

20As it were a dream after a man is awakened; O Lord! in awaking, their image thou wilt render contemptible.

21For in a ferment was my heart, And in my reins I was pierced.

22And I myself [was] foolish and knew not any thing; As the beasts have I been before thee.

23Nevertheless I have been continually with thee; Thou hast held my right hand.

24With thy counsel thou shalt guide me; And at length to glory thou shalt take me.

25Whom have I in heaven but thee? And another with time I have not desired on the earth.

26Failed have my flesh and my heart; But the strength of my heart and my portion is God for ever.

27For lo! those who depart from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed every one who goeth a whoring from thee.

28As for me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Jehovah my trust, That I may tell of all thy works.

Commentary on Psalms - Volume 5