Psalms 72
1A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.
4For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction.
5They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men.
6Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found + 72:10 Gr. in.with them.
11And they said, How does God know? and + 72:11 Gr. if there is.is there knowledge in the Most High?
12Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning.
15If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me,
17until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.
18Surely thou hast appointed judgments to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been + 72:21 Gr. changed.gladdened.
22But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25For what have I in heaven but thee? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
28But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.