Psalms73

The End of the Wicked Contrasted with That of the Righteous.

A Psalm of Asaph.

1Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps  had almost slipped.3For I was envious of the  arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4For there are no pains in their death, And their  body is fat.5They are not  in trouble as other   men, Nor are they plagued  like mankind.6Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.7Their eye  bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart  run riot.8They mock and  wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.9They have set their mouth  against the heavens, And their tongue  parades through the earth.
10Therefore his people return to this place,
And waters of abundance are drunk by them.
11They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge  with the Most High?”12Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.13Surely in vain I have  kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;14For I have been stricken all day long And  chastened every morning.
15If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.
16When I pondered to understand this, It was  troublesome in my sight17Until I came into the  sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.18Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to  destruction.19How they are  destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their  form.
21When my heart was embittered
And I was pierced within,
22Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like   a beast  before You.23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.24With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me  to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
26My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the  strength of my heart and my portion forever.27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have  destroyed all those who  are unfaithful to You.28But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord  GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

New American Standard Bible — NASB 2020 Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.lockman.org

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