Psalms 73

Book III

Psalm 73

Plea for Relief from Oppressors

1Truly God is good to Israel,[#Ps 51.10; 86.5]

to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;[#Ps 94.18]

my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I was envious of the arrogant;[#Ps 37.1; Jer 12.1]

I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For they have no pain;

their bodies are sound and sleek.

5They are not in trouble as others are;[#Job 21.9]

they are not plagued like other people.

6Therefore pride is their necklace;[#Ps 109.18]

violence covers them like a garment.

7Their eyes swell out with fatness;[#Job 15.27; Ps 17.10]

their hearts overflow with follies.

8They scoff and speak with malice;[#Ps 53.1; Jude 16]

loftily they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against heaven,

and their tongues range over the earth.

10Therefore the people turn and praise them[#73.10 Cn: Heb his people return here]

and find no fault in them.

11And they say, “How can God know?[#Job 22.13]

Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12Such are the wicked;[#Ps 49.6; Jer 49.31]

always at ease, they increase in riches.

13All in vain I have kept my heart clean[#Job 21.15; Ps 26.6]

and washed my hands in innocence.

14For all day long I have been plagued[#Ps 38.6; 118.18]

and am punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,”

I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.

16But when I thought how to understand this,[#Eccl 8.17]

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17until I went into the sanctuary of God;[#Ps 77.13]

then I perceived their end.

18Truly you set them in slippery places;[#Ps 35.6, 8]

you make them fall to ruin.

19How they are destroyed in a moment,[#Num 26.21; Job 18.11]

swept away utterly by terrors!

20They are like a dream when one awakes;[#1 Sam 2.30; Job 20.8; #73.20 Cn: Heb Lord]

on awaking you despise their phantoms.

21When my soul was embittered,

when I was pricked in heart,

22I was stupid and ignorant;[#Job 18.3; Ps 49.10]

I was like a brute beast toward you.

23Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

24You guide me with your counsel,[#Ps 32.8; 48.14]

and afterward you will receive me with honor.

25Whom have I in heaven but you?[#Phil 3.8]

And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.

26My flesh and my heart may fail,[#Ps 16.5; 84.2]

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;[#Ps 37.20]

you put an end to those who are false to you.

28But for me it is good to be near God;[#Ps 40.5; 71.7; Heb 10.22]

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

to tell of all your works.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ