1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. |
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. |
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. |
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. |
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. |
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. |
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. |
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. |
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. |
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. |
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? |
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. |
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. |
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. |
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. |
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; |
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. |
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. |
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. |
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. |
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. |
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. |
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. |
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. |
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. |
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. |
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. |
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. |
73 It is probable, Asaph was the author of this psalm; for we read of the words of David and the words of Asaph the seer, which were used in praising God in Hezekiah's time, Ch2 29:30.
He begins with laying down a general principle, Psa 73:1.
Confesses his temptation to envy the wicked, Psa 73:2-14.
Tells how he gained the victory over it, and advantage by it, Psa 73:15-28.
A psalm of Asaph.
73:1 A clean heart - To all true Israelites, who love God, and serve him in spirit and truth.
73:2 My feet - My faith in God's providence, was almost overthrown.
73:4 No bands - They are not dragged to death, by the sentence of the magistrate, which they deserve.
73:5 As other men - As good men frequently are.
73:8 And speak - Boasting of their oppressions.
73:9 Against - Against God, blaspheming his name, and deriding his providence. Walketh - Using all manner of liberty, reproaching all sorts of persons.
73:10 Turn - To this wicked company. Waters - And partake of the same prosperity with their leaders. God seems to give them a full cup of consolation, as if he would wring out all his blessings upon them.
73:12 Behold - These seem to be the words of the psalmist, summing up the matter.
73:13 In vain - Hence I was sometimes tempted, to think that religion was a vain, unprofitable thing. True religion is here described by its two principal parts, the cleansing of the heart, and the hands.
73:15 Offend - By grieving, discouraging and tempting them to revolt from God.
73:16 To know - To find out the reason of this providence.
73:17 Until - 'Till I consulted the word of God. He alludes to the practice of those times, which was, in difficult cases to resort to God's sanctuary, and the oracle therein. Their end - There I learned that their prosperity was short.
73:19 Terrors - With God's dreadful judgements unexpectedly seizing upon them.
73:20 They awake - Out of the pleasant dream of this vain life.Despise - Thou shalt make them despicable both to themselves and to all others; raise them to shame, and everlasting contempt.Image - All their felicity and glory, which shall be evidently discerned to be, no real or substantial thing, but a mere image or shadow.
73:21 Pricked - I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts.
73:22 Nevertheless - Although I gave thee just cause to cast me off, yet thou didst continue thy care and kindness to me.Hast held - That my faith might not fail.
73:27 Go a whoring - Those who revolt from thee, to work wickedness; which is called whoredom in scripture.