OEBcth - Psalms - 73

73:1  Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.

73:2  But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,

73:3  through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.

73:4  For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.

73:5  They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.

73:6  So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,

73:7  their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.

73:8  Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.

73:9  They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.

73:10  Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.

73:11  “How does God know?” they say, “And has the Most High any knowledge?”

73:12  See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.

73:13  Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;

73:14  for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.

73:15  But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.

73:16  So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:

73:17  till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.

73:18  Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.

73:19  One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.

73:20  Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.

73:21  So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart

73:22  show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.

73:23  But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.

73:24  By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.

73:25  Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.

73:26  Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.

73:27  For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.

73:28  But I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.