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

But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.

For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.

For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.

They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.

Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.

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

They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.

They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.

Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.

And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.

And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.

For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.

If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.

And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,

until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.

Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.

How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.

As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.

For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.

But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.

Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.

You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.

For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?

My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.

For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.

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