Psalm 73

¹Truly, God is good to Israel, *to those who are pure in heart.

²But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped; *I had almost tripped and fallen;

³Because I envied the proud *and saw the prosperity of the wicked:

⁴For they suffer no pain, *and their bodies are sleek and sound;

⁵In the misfortunes of others they have no share; *they are not afflicted as others are;

⁶Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace *and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.

⁷Their iniquity comes from gross minds, *and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

⁸They scoff and speak maliciously; *out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.

⁹They set their mouths against the heavens, *and their evil speech runs through the world.

¹⁰And so the people turn to them *and find in them no fault.

¹¹They say, “How should God know? *is there knowledge in the Most High?”

¹²So then, these are the wicked; *always at ease, they increase their wealth.

¹³In vain have I kept my heart clean, *and washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴I have been afflicted all day long, *and punished every morning.

¹⁵Had I gone on speaking this way, *I should have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶When I tried to understand these things, *it was too hard for me;

¹⁷Until I entered the sanctuary of God *and discerned the end of the wicked.

¹⁸Surely, you set them in slippery places; *you cast them down in ruin.

¹⁹Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction, *come to an end, and perish from terror!

²⁰Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord, *when you arise you will make their image vanish.

²¹When my mind became embittered, *I was sorely wounded in my heart.

²²I was stupid and had no understanding; *I was like a brute beast in your presence.

²³Yet I am always with you; *you hold me by my right hand.

²⁴You will guide me by your counsel, *and afterwards receive me with glory.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? *and having you I desire nothing upon earth.

²⁶Though my flesh and my heart should waste away, *God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

²⁷Truly, those who forsake you will perish; *you destroy all who are unfaithful.

²⁸But it is good for me to be near God; *I have made the Lord God my refuge.

²⁹I will speak of all your works *in the gates of the city of Zion.