| Chapter
73 |
| 1 | Truly
God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. |
| 2 | But as for me, my feet were almost gone;
my steps had well nigh slipped. |
| 3
| For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the
wicked. |
| 4 | For there are
no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. |
| 5 | They are not in trouble as other men;
neither are they plagued like other men. |
| 6 | Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
violence covereth them as a garment. |
|
7 | Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart
could wish. |
| 8 | They are
corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. |
| 9 | They set their mouth against the
heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. |
| 10 | Therefore his people return hither:
and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. |
|
11 | And they say, How doth God know? and is there
knowledge in the most High? |
| 12
| Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase
in riches. |
| 13 | Verily I
have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. |
| 14 | For all the day long have I been
plagued, and chastened every morning. |
| 15 | If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend
against the generation of thy children. |
| 16 | When I thought to know this, it was too painful for
me; |
| 17 | Until I went into
the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. |
|
18 | Surely thou didst set them in slippery places:
thou castedst them down into destruction. |
| 19 | How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!
they are utterly consumed with terrors. |
| 20 | As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou
awakest, thou shalt despise their image. |
| 21 | Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my
reins. |
| 22 | So foolish was
I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. |
|
23 | Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast
holden me by my right hand. |
| 24
| Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to
glory. |
| 25 | Whom have I in
heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. |
| 26 | My flesh and my heart
faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. |
| 27 | For, lo, they that are far
from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from
thee. |
| 28 | But it is good
for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may
declare all thy works. |
