Psalms 73
Superscription: A Psalm of Asaph
The psalmist envies the prosperity of the wicked
אַךְ טוֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהִים לְבָרֵי לֵבָֽב׃
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
וַאֲנִי כִּמְעַט נָטָיוּ רַגְלָי כְּאַיִן נָטָיוּ אֲשֻׁרָֽי׃
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
כִּֽי-קִנֵּאתִי בַּֽהוֹלְלִים שְׁלוֹם רְשָׁעִים אֶרְאֶֽה׃
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
כִּי אֵין חַרְצֻבּוֹת לְמוֹתָם וּבָרִיא אוּלָֽם׃
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
בַּעֲמַל אֱנוֹשׁ אֵינֵמוֹ וְעִם-אָדָם לֹא יְנֻגָּֽעוּ׃
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
לָכֵן עֲנָקַתְמוֹ גַאֲוָה יַעֲטָף-שִׁית חָמָס לָֽמוֹ׃
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
יָצָא מֵחֵלֶב עֵינֵמוֹ עָבְרוּ מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת לֵבָֽב׃
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
יָמִיקוּ׀ וִידַבְּרוּ בְרָע עֹשֶׁק מִמָּרוֹם יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
שַׁתּוּ בַשָּׁמַיִם פִּיהֶם וּלְשׁוֹנָם תִּֽהֲלַךְ בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
לָכֵן׀ יָשׁוּב עַמּוֹ הֲלֹם וּמֵי מָלֵא יִמָּצוּ לָֽמוֹ׃
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
וְֽאָמְרוּ אֵיכָה יָדַֽע-אֵל וְיֵשׁ דֵּעָה בְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
הִנֵּה-אֵלֶּה רְשָׁעִים וְשַׁלְוֵי עוֹלָם הִשְׂגּוּ-חָֽיִל׃
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
אַךְ-רִיק זִכִּיתִי לְבָבִי וָאֶרְחַץ בְּנִקָּיוֹן כַּפָּֽי׃
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
וָאֱהִי נָגוּעַ כָּל-הַיּוֹם וְתוֹכַחְתִּי לַבְּקָרִֽים׃
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Understanding the end of the wicked in the sanctuary
אִם-אָמַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָה כְמוֹ הִנֵּה דוֹר בָּנֶיךָ בָגָֽדְתִּי׃
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
וָֽאֲחַשְּׁבָה לָדַעַת זֹאת עָמָל הוּא בְעֵינָֽי׃
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
עַד-אָבוֹא אֶל-מִקְדְּשֵׁי-אֵל אָבִינָה לְאַחֲרִיתָֽם׃
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
אַךְ בַּחֲלָקוֹת תָּשִׁית לָמוֹ הִפַּלְתָּם לְמַשּׁוּאֽוֹת׃
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
אֵיךְ הָיוּ לְשַׁמָּה כְרָגַע סָפוּ תַמּוּ מִן-בַּלָּהֽוֹת׃
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
כַּחֲלוֹם מֵהָקִיץ אֲדֹנָי בָּעִיר׀ צַלְמָם תִּבְזֶֽה׃
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
God as the psalmist's portion for ever
כִּי יִתְחַמֵּץ לְבָבִי וְכִלְיוֹתַי אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
וַאֲנִי-בַעַר וְלֹא אֵדָע בְּהֵמוֹת הָיִיתִי עִמָּֽךְ׃
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
וַאֲנִי תָמִיד עִמָּךְ אָחַזְתָּ בְּיַד-יְמִינִֽי׃
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
בַּעֲצָתְךָ תַנְחֵנִי וְאַחַר כָּבוֹד תִּקָּחֵֽנִי׃
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
מִי-לִי בַשָּׁמָיִם וְעִמְּךָ לֹא-חָפַצְתִּי בָאָֽרֶץ׃
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
כָּלָה שְׁאֵרִי וּלְבָבִי צוּר-לְבָבִי וְחֶלְקִי אֱלֹהִים לְעוֹלָֽם׃
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
כִּֽי-הִנֵּה רְחֵקֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ הִצְמַתָּה כָּל-זוֹנֶה מִמֶּֽךָּ׃
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
וַאֲנִי׀ קִֽרֲבַת אֱלֹהִים לִי טוֹב שַׁתִּי׀ בַּאדֹנָי יְהוִֹה מַחְסִי לְסַפֵּר כָּל-מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.