BOOK 3

PSALM 73

The Nearness of God Is My Good

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Surely ^H389 God ^H430 is good ^H2896 to Israel ^H3478,

To those who are pure ^H1249 in heart ^H3824!

2 But as for me, my feet ^H7272 had ^H5186 almost ^H4592 stumbled ^H5186,

My steps ^H838 [fn]had almost ^H369 slipped ^H8210.

3 For I was ^H7065 envious ^H7065 of the boastful ^H1984,

I saw ^H7200 the peace ^H7965 of the wicked ^H7563.

4 For there ^H369 are ^H369 no ^H369 pains ^H2784 in their death ^H4194,

And their [fn]body ^H193 is fat ^H1277.

5 They are not [fn]in trouble ^H5999 as other [fn]men ^H582,

And ^H3808 they are not stricken ^H5060 along ^H5973 with ^H5973 the rest of mankind ^H120.

6 Therefore ^H3651 lofty ^H1346 pride ^H1346 is their necklace ^H6059;

The garment ^H7897 of violence ^H2555 covers ^H5848 them.

7 Their eye ^H5869 [fn]bulges ^H3318 from fatness ^H2459;

The delusions ^H4906 of their heart ^H3824 overflow ^H5674.

8 They scoff ^H4167 and [fn]wickedly ^H7451 speak ^H1696 of oppression ^H6233;

They speak ^H1696 from on high ^H4791.

9 They have set ^H7896 their mouth ^H6310 [fn]against the heavens ^H8064,

And their tongue ^H3956 goes ^H1980 through the earth ^H776.

10 Therefore ^H3651 [fn]his people ^H5971 return ^H7725 here ^H1988, to his place,

And waters ^H4325 of fullness ^H4392 are [fn]drunk ^H4680 by them.

11 They say ^H559, “How ^H351 does God ^H410 know ^H3045?

And is ^H3426 there ^H3426 knowledge ^H1844 with the Most ^H5945 High ^H5945?”

12 Behold ^H2009, these ^H428 are the wicked ^H7563;

And always ^H5769 at ease ^H7961, they have increased ^H7685 in wealth ^H2428.

13 Surely ^H389 in vain ^H7385 I have [fn]kept ^H2135 my heart ^H3824 pure ^H2135

And washed ^H7364 my hands ^H3709 in innocence ^H5356;

14 For I have been stricken ^H5060 all ^H3605 day ^H3117 long

And [fn]reproved ^H8433 every morning ^H1242.

15 If ^H518 I had said ^H559, “I will recount ^H5608 thus ^H3644,”

Behold ^H2009, I would have betrayed ^H898 the generation ^H1755 of Your children ^H1121.

16 When I gave ^H2803 thought ^H2803 to know ^H3045 this ^H2088,

It was trouble ^H5999 in my sight ^H5869

17 Until ^H5704 I came ^H935 into the [fn]sanctuary ^H4720 of God ^H410;

Then I understood ^H995 their end ^H319.

18 Surely ^H389 You set ^H7896 them in slippery ^H2513 places ^H2513;

You cause ^H5307 them to fall ^H5307 to [fn]destruction ^H4876.

19 How ^H349 they become desolate ^H8047 in a moment ^H7281!

They are completely ^H8552 swept ^H5486 away ^H5486 by terrors ^H1091!

20 Like a dream ^H2472 when ^H4480 one awakes ^H6974,

O Lord ^H136, when aroused ^H5782, You will despise ^H959 their [fn]form ^H6754.

21 When ^H3588 my heart ^H3824 was ^H2556 embittered ^H2556

And I was pierced ^H8150 [fn]within ^H3629,

22 Then I was senseless ^H1198 and ignorant ^H3808 H3045;

I was like [fn]an animal ^H929 [fn]before ^H5973 You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually ^H8548 with You;

You have taken ^H270 hold ^H270 of my right ^H3225 hand ^H3027.

24 With Your counsel ^H6098 You will lead ^H5148 me,

And afterward ^H310 take ^H3947 me [fn]in glory ^H3519.

25 Whom ^H4310 have I in heaven ^H8064 but You?

And [fn]besides ^H5973 You, I desire ^H2654 nothing ^H3808 on earth ^H776.

26 My flesh ^H7607 and my heart ^H3824 fail ^H3615,

But God ^H430 is the rock ^H6697 of my heart ^H3824 and my portion ^H2506 forever ^H5769.

27 For, behold ^H2009, those who are far ^H7369 from You will perish ^H6;

You have [fn]destroyed ^H6789 everyone ^H3605 who [fn]is unfaithful ^H2181 to You.

28 But as for me, the nearness ^H7132 of God ^H430 is my good ^H2896;

I have set ^H7896 Lord ^H136 Yahweh ^H3068 as my refuge ^H4268,

That I may recount ^H5608 all ^H3605 Your works ^H4399.