BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Surely God Is Good to Israel

1(72:1) A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!

2(72:2) But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.

3(72:3) For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.

4(72:4) For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction.

5(72:5) They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men.

6(72:6) Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.

7(72:7) Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.

8(72:8) They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

9(72:9) They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.

10(72:10) Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.

11(72:11) And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

12(72:12) Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.

13(72:13) And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.

14(72:14) For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning.

15(72:15) If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.

16(72:16) And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me,

17(72:17) until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.

18(72:18) Surely thou hast appointed judgments to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.

19(72:19) How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.

20(72:20) As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.

21(72:21) For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

22(72:22) But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.

23(72:23) Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.

24(72:24) Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.

25(72:25) For what have I in heaven but thee? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?

26(72:26) My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

27(72:27) For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.

28(72:28) But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.