Psalms 73

1Understanding for Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture?

1Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

2Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.

2But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

3Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

3Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

4And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,

4For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

5And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees,

5They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

6They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down.

6For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

7They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of thy name on the earth.

7Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

8They said in their heart, the whole kindred of them together: Let us abolish all the festival days of God from the land.

8Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

9Our signs we have not seen, there is now no prophet: and he will know us no more.

9Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

10How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach: is the adversary to provoke thy name for ever?

10For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

11Why dost thou turn away thy hand: and thy right hand out of the midst of thy bosom for ever?

11And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

12But God is our king before ages: he hath wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

12Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

13Thou by thy strength didst make the sea firm: thou didst crush the heads of the dragons in the waters.

13As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

14Thou hast broken the heads of the dragon: thou hast given him to be meat for the people of the Ethiopians.

14For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

15Thou hast broken up the fountains and the torrents: thou hast dried up the Ethan rivers.

15If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

16Thine is the day, and thine is the night: thou hast made the morning light and the sun.

16When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

17Thou hast made all the borders of the earth: the summer and the spring were formed by thee.

17Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

18Remember this, the enemy hath reproached the Lord: and a foolish people hath provoked thy name.

18You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

19Deliver not up to beasts the souls that confess to thee: and forget not to the end the souls of thy poor.

19How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

20Have regard to thy covenant: for they that are the obscure of the earth have been filled with dwellings of iniquity.

20As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

21Let not the humble be turned away with confusion: the poor and needy shall praise thy name.

21My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

22Arise, O God, judge thy own cause: remember thy reproaches with which the foolish man hath reproached thee all the day.

22As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

23Forget not the voices of thy enemies: the pride of them that hate thee ascendeth continually.

23But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

24(not in this translation)

24Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

25(not in this translation)

25Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

26(not in this translation)

26My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

27(not in this translation)

27For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

28(not in this translation)

28But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.