Psalm 73

Surely God Is Good to Israel

A Psalm of Asaph.

¹Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

• PS 73:1[NOTE]ASAPH'S PROBLEM. Why do the wicked have it so easy? The turning point comes in 73:17, when he goes into God's sanctuary.

²But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

my steps had nearly slipped.

³For I envied the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴They have no struggle in their death;

their bodies are well-fed.

⁵They are free of the burdens others carry;

they are not afflicted like other men.

⁶Therefore pride is their necklace;

a garment of violence covers them.

⁷From their prosperity proceeds iniquity;

the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

⁸They mock and speak with malice;

with arrogance they threaten oppression.

⁹They set their mouths against the heavens,

and their tongues strut across the earth.

¹⁰So their people return to this place

and drink up waters in abundance.

¹¹The wicked say, “How can God know?

Does the Most High have knowledge?”

¹²Behold, these are the wicked—

always carefree as they increase their wealth.

¹³Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure;

in innocence I have washed my hands.

¹⁴For I am afflicted all day long

and punished every morning.

¹⁵If I had said, “I will speak this way,”

then I would have betrayed Your children.

¹⁶When I tried to understand all this,

it was troublesome in my sight

¹⁷until I entered God’s sanctuary;

then I discerned their end.

¹⁸Surely You set them on slick ground;

You cast them down into ruin.

¹⁹How suddenly they are laid waste,

completely swept away by terrors!

²⁰Like one waking from a dream,

so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

²¹When my heart was grieved

and I was pierced within,

²²I was senseless and ignorant;

I was a brute beast before You.

²³Yet I am always with You;

You hold my right hand.

²⁴You guide me with Your counsel,

and later receive me in glory.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but You?

And on earth I desire no one besides You.

²⁶My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

• PS 73:26[HEART]My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart.

²⁷Those far from You will surely perish;

You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

²⁸But as for me, it is good to draw near to God.

I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge,

that I may proclaim all Your works.