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BOOK III

(Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

Plea for Relief from Oppressors

A Psalm of Asaph.

1

Truly God is good to the upright,

to those who are pure in heart.

2

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

my steps had nearly slipped.

3

For I was envious of the arrogant;

I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 

4

For they have no pain;

their bodies are sound and sleek.

5

They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not plagued like other people.

6

Therefore pride is their necklace;

violence covers them like a garment.

7

Their eyes swell out with fatness;

their hearts overflow with follies.

8

They scoff and speak with malice;

loftily they threaten oppression.

9

They set their mouths against heaven,

and their tongues range over the earth.

 

10

Therefore the people turn and praise them,

and find no fault in them.

11

And they say, “How can God know?

Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12

Such are the wicked;

always at ease, they increase in riches.

13

All in vain I have kept my heart clean

and washed my hands in innocence.

14

For all day long I have been plagued,

and am punished every morning.

 

15

If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,”

I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.

16

But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17

until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I perceived their end.

18

Truly you set them in slippery places;

you make them fall to ruin.

19

How they are destroyed in a moment,

swept away utterly by terrors!

20

They are like a dream when one awakes;

on awaking you despise their phantoms.

 

21

When my soul was embittered,

when I was pricked in heart,

22

I was stupid and ignorant;

I was like a brute beast toward you.

23

Nevertheless I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.

24

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will receive me with honor.

25

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.

26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

 

27

Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;

you put an end to those who are false to you.

28

But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord G od my refuge,

to tell of all your works.


28. As for me, it is good for me to draw near to God. Literally the reading is, And I, etc. David speaking expressly of himself, affirms that although he should see all mankind in a state of estrangement from God, and wandering after the ever-changing errors and superstitions of the world, he would nevertheless study to continue always in a state of nearness to God. Let others perish, says he, if their headstrong passions cannot be restrained, and they themselves prevented from running after the deceits of the world; but as for me, I will continue steadfast in the resolution of maintaining a sacred communion with God. In the subsequent clause he informs us that we draw near to God in a right manner when our confidence continues firmly fixed in him. God will not hold us by his right hand unless we are fully persuaded of the impossibility of our continuing steadfast and safe in any other way than by his grace alone. This passage is worthy of notice, that we may not be carried away by evil examples, to join ourselves to the wicked, and to act as they do, although even the whole world should fall into unbelief; but that we may learn to gather in our affections from other objects, and to confine them exclusively to God. In the close, the Psalmist intimates that after he shall have devoted himself to God alone, he shall never want matter for praising him, since God never disappoints the hope which his people repose in him. From this it follows, that none curse God or murmur against him, but those who wilfully shut their eyes and involve themselves in darkness, lest knowing and observing his providence, they should be induced to give themselves up to his faithfulness and protection.


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