Psalm 73 Quam bonus Israel!

¹

Truly, God is good to Israel,*
to those who are pure in heart.

²

But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;*
I had almost tripped and fallen;

³

Because I envied the proud*
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:

⁴

For they suffer no pain,*
and their bodies are sleek and sound;

⁵

In the misfortunes of others they have no share;*
they are not afflicted as others are;

⁶

Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace*
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.

⁷

Their iniquity comes from gross minds,*
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

⁸

They scoff and speak maliciously;*
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.

⁹

They set their mouths against the heavens,*
and their evil speech runs through the world.

¹⁰

And so the people turn to them*
and find in them no fault.

¹¹

They say, "How should God know?*
is there knowledge in the Most High?"

¹²

So then, these are the wicked;*
always at ease, they increase their wealth.

¹³

In vain have I kept my heart clean,*
and washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴

I have been afflicted all day long,*
and punished every morning.

¹⁵

Had I gone on speaking this way,*
I should have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶

When I tried to understand these things,*
it was too hard for me;

¹⁷

Until I entered the sanctuary of God*
and discerned the end of the wicked.

¹⁸

Surely, you set them in slippery places;*
you cast them down in ruin.

¹⁹

Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction,*
come to an end, and perish from terror!

²⁰

Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord,*
when you arise you will make their image vanish.

²¹

When my mind became embittered,*
I was sorely wounded in my heart.

²²

I was stupid and had no understanding;*
I was like a brute beast in your presence.

²³

Yet I am always with you;*
you hold me by my right hand.

²⁴

You will guide me by your counsel,*
and afterwards receive me with glory.

²⁵

Whom have I in heaven but you?*
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.

²⁶

Though my flesh and my heart should waste away,*
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

²⁷

Truly, those who forsake you will perish;*
you destroy all who are unfaithful.

²⁸

But it is good for me to be near God;*
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge.

²⁹

I will speak of all your works*
in the gates of the city of Zion.

chanted by Susan Arnold