Font Size
Psalm 73
New Life Version
Psalm 73
New Life Version
The Good and the Sinful
73 For sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped. 3 For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful. 4 For they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat. 5 They do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men. 6 So they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat. 7 They are so fat that their eyes are pushed out. The crazy thoughts of their hearts run wild. 8 They laugh at the truth, and speak sinful things about making it hard for others. They speak from a high place. 9 They say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 And so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup. 11 They say, “How does God know? Is there much learning with the Most High?”
12 See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow. 13 For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned. 14 For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.
15 I would not have been true to Your children if I had spoken this way. 16 It was too hard for me when I tried to understand this, 17 until I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end. 18 For sure, You set the sinful in places where there is danger at every step. You throw them down to be destroyed. 19 How they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear. 20 Like a dream when one wakes up, so You will hate what they look like when You rise up, O Lord.
21 My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside. 22 I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You. 23 Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. 24 You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. 26 My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever. 27 For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You. 28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.
Psalm 73
New International Version
Psalm 73
New International Version
BOOK III
Psalms 73–89
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.(A)
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;(B)
I had nearly lost my foothold.(C)
3 For I envied(D) the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(E)
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free(F) from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride(G) is their necklace;(H)
they clothe themselves with violence.(I)
7 From their callous hearts(J) comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;(K)
with arrogance(L) they threaten oppression.(M)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
13 Surely in vain(P) I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(R)
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(S) all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(T) of God;
then I understood their final destiny.(U)
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(V)
you cast them down to ruin.(W)
19 How suddenly(X) are they destroyed,
completely swept away(Y) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(Z) when one awakes;(AA)
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.(AB)
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(AC) and ignorant;
I was a brute beast(AD) before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.(AE)
24 You guide(AF) me with your counsel,(AG)
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(AH)
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart(AJ) may fail,(AK)
but God is the strength(AL) of my heart
and my portion(AM) forever.
Footnotes
- Psalm 73:4 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text struggles at their death; / their bodies are healthy
- Psalm 73:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew Their eyes bulge with fat
- Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
New Life Version (NLV)
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.