Psalm 73

Truly, God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;

I had almost tripped and fallen;

Because I envied the proud

and saw the prosperity of the wicked:

For they suffer no pain,

and their bodies are sleek and sound;

In the misfortunes of others they have no share;

they are not afflicted as others are;

Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace

and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.

Their iniquity comes from gross minds,

and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

They scoff and speak maliciously;

out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.

They set their mouths against the heavens,

and their evil speech runs through the world.

And so the people turn to them

and find in them no fault.

They say, "How should God know?

is there knowledge in the Most High?"

So then, these are the wicked;

always at ease, they increase their wealth.

In vain have I kept my heart clean,

and washed my hands in innocence.

I have been afflicted all day long,

and punished every morning.

Had I gone on speaking this way,

I should have betrayed the generation of your children.

When I tried to understand these things,

it was too hard for me;

Until I entered the sanctuary of God

and discerned the end of the wicked.

Surely, you set them in slippery places;

you cast them down in ruin.

Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction,

come to an end, and perish from terror!

Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord,

when you arise you will make their image vanish.

When my mind became embittered,

I was sorely wounded in my heart.

I was stupid and had no understanding;

I was like a brute beast in your presence.

Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You will guide me by your counsel,

and afterwards receive me with glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?

and having you I desire nothing upon earth.

Though my flesh and my heart should waste away,

God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Truly, those who forsake you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful.

But it is good for me to be near God;

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge.

I will speak of all your works

in the gates of the city of Zion.