Psalms 72

¹A Psalm to Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!

²But my feet were almost moved, my steps almost slipped.

³Because I have had zeal upon the wicked, seeing the peace of sinners.

⁴Because there is no respect to their death: and stability in their plague.

⁵In the labours of men they are not, and with men they shall not be scourged.

⁶Therefore hath pride held them, they are covered with their iniquity and impiety.

⁷Their iniquity hath proceeded as it were of fat: they have passed into the affection of the heart.

⁸They have thought and have spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.

⁹They have set their mouth unto heaven: and their tongue hath passed in the earth.

¹⁰Therefore will my people return here: and full days shall be found in them.

¹¹And they have said: How doth God know, and is there knowledge in the highest?

¹²Lo the sinners themselves, and they that abound in the world, have obtained riches.

¹³And I said: Then have I justified my heart without cause, and have washed my hands amongst innocents:

¹⁴And have been scourged all the day, and my chastising in the mornings.

¹⁵If I said: I will speak this: behold I reproved the nation of thy children.

¹⁶I thought to know this thing, it is labour before me:

¹⁷Until I may enter into the sanctuary of God: and may understand concerning their latter ends.

¹⁸But yet for guiles thou hast put it to them: thou hast cast them down whilst they were elevated.

¹⁹How are they brought into desolation, they have failed suddenly: they have perished for their iniquity.

²⁰As the dream of them that rise, o Lord, in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.

²¹Because my heart is inflamed, and my reins are changed:

²²And I am brought to nothing, and knew not.

²³As a beast am I become with thee: and I always with thee.

²⁴Thou hast held my right hand: and in thy will thou hast conducted me, and with glory thou hast received me.

²⁵For what is to me in heaven? And besides thee what would I upon the earth?

²⁶My flesh hath fainted, and my heart: God of my heart, and God my portion for ever.

²⁷For behold, they that make themselves far from thee, shall perish: thou hast destroyed all that fornicate from thee.

²⁸But it is good for me to cleave to God: to put my hope in our Lord God. That I may shew forth all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.