72
(73) A Psalm for Asaph.
1 How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.
4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction.
5 They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men.
6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found * with them.
11 And they said, How does God know? and † is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning.
15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
16 And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me,
17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.
18 Surely you have appointed judgements to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been ‡ gladdened.
22 But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
23 Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
24 You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
25 For what have I in heaven but you? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
26 My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.
28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
* 72:10 Gr. in. † 72:11 Gr. if there is. ‡ 72:21 Gr. changed.