PsalmsChapter 73

Tap any verse to comment or suggest a better wording.

¹A psalm of Asaph.
God is truly good to Israel.
He is good to those whose hearts are pure. ²But as for me, my feet almost tripped.
My steps nearly slipped. ³For I was jealous of proud people
when I saw how well wicked people were doing. ⁴They have no pain when they die.
Their bodies are well fed. ⁵They do not carry the heavy loads others carry.
They do not suffer like other people. ⁶So they wear pride like a necklace.
They wear violence like a robe. ⁷Their rich lives lead to sin.
The ideas in their hearts run wild. ⁸They make fun of others and speak with hate.
They proudly threaten to crush people. ⁹Their mouths speak against heaven.
Their tongues strut proudly across the earth. ¹⁰So their people turn back to this place.
They drink up plenty of water. ¹¹The wicked say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High know anything?" ¹²Look, this is what the wicked are like.
They never have a care, and they keep getting richer. ¹³I have kept my heart pure for nothing.
I have washed my hands to show I am innocent, but for nothing. ¹⁴For I suffer all day long.
I am punished every morning. ¹⁵But if I had said, "I will talk like this,"
I would have turned against your children. ¹⁶I tried to understand all this.
It was too hard for me ¹⁷until I went into God's holy place.
Then I understood how they will end. ¹⁸You have surely put them on slippery ground.
You throw them down to be destroyed. ¹⁹How suddenly they are ruined!
Terrors sweep them away completely! ²⁰They are like a dream when a person wakes up.
Lord, when you wake up, you will hate what they are. ²¹When my heart was sad
and I was hurt deep inside, ²²I was foolish and did not understand.
I was like a dumb animal in front of you. ²³Yet I am always with you.
You hold my right hand. ²⁴You guide me with your wise advice.
Later you will take me into glory. ²⁵Who do I have in heaven but you?
There is no one on earth I want but you. ²⁶My body and my heart may fail.
But God is the strength of my heart.
He is mine forever. ²⁷Those who are far from you will surely perish.
You destroy all who are not faithful to you. ²⁸But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Lord GOD my safe place.
Then I can tell about all you have done.