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Psalm 73 :: New King James Version (NKJV)

Book Three: Psalms 73—89
The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God
Psa 73:1A Psalm of Asaph.

Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
Psa 73:2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
Psa 73:3For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Psa 73:4For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
Psa 73:5They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.
Psa 73:6Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them like a garment.
Psa 73:7Their eyes bulge[fn] with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish.
Psa 73:8They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They speak loftily.
Psa 73:9They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth.
Psa 73:10Therefore his people return here,
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
Psa 73:11And they say, “How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Psa 73:12Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
Psa 73:13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
Psa 73:14For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
Psa 73:15If I had said, “I will speak thus,”
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
Psa 73:16When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
Psa 73:17Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
Psa 73:18Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
Psa 73:19Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
Psa 73:20As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
Psa 73:21Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
Psa 73:22I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
Psa 73:23Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
Psa 73:24You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Psa 73:25Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
Psa 73:26My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psa 73:27For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
Psa 73:28But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.
NKJV Footnotes
Targum reads face bulges; Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read iniquity bulges.
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