Psalms 73

1A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!

2But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.

4For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.

5They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.

6Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.

7Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.

8They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.

9They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.

10Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.

11And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.

13And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.

14And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.

15If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.

16I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:

17Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.

18But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.

19How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.

20As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.

21For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:

22And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.

23I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.

24Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.

25For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?

26For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.

27For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.

28But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

1Psalmus Asaph. [Quam bonus Israël Deus, his qui recto sunt corde !

2Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes, pene effusi sunt gressus mei:

3quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.

4Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.

5In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.

6Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.

7Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum; transierunt in affectum cordis.

8Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.

9Posuerunt in cælum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.

10Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.

11Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?

12Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo obtinuerunt divitias.

13Et dixi: Ergo sine causa justificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas,

14et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.

15Si dicebam: Narrabo sic; ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.

16Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc; labor est ante me:

17donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intelligam in novissimis eorum.

18Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis; dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.

19Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem? subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.

20Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.

21Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt;

22et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi:

23ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.

24Tenuisti manum dexteram meam, et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.

25Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?

26Defecit caro mea et cor meum; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in æternum.

27Quia ecce qui elongant se a te peribunt; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.

28Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est; ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annuntiem omnes prædicationes tuas in portis filiæ Sion.]

1A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart.

2But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners.

4For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds.

5They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men.

6Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety.

7Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart.

8They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places.

9They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth.

10Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them.

11And they said, “How would God know?” and, “Isn’t there knowledge in high places?”

12Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches.

13And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent.

14And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings.

15If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons.

16I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me,

17until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part.

18So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down.

19How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity.

20As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city.

21For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed.

22And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it.

23I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you.

24You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up.

25For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you?

26My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity.

27For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you.

28But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion.