Psalms 73:2-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 73
2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. 3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat. 5They are not in trouble like other people, Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind. 6Therefore arrogance is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. 7Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart overflow. 8They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. 9They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth. 10Therefore his people return here, And abundant waters are drunk by them. 11They say, 'How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?' 12Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. 13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence; 14For I have been stricken all day long, And punished every morning. 15If I had said, 'I will speak this way,' Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. 16When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight 17Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. 18You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin. 19How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! 20Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.King James Version
Chapter 73
2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. 8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? 12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Christian Standard Bible
3For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well fed.
5They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.
6Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.
7Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.
9They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10Therefore his people turn to them and drink in their overflowing words.
11The wicked say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything? "
12Look at them--the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.
13Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?
14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15If I had decided to say these things aloud, I would have betrayed your people.
16When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless
17until I entered God's sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.
18Indeed, you put them in slippery places; you make them fall into ruin.
19How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.
New Living Translation
Chapter 73
2But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. 3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 4They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. 5They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. 6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. 7These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! 8They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. 10And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. 11'What does God know?' they ask. 'Does the Most High even know what’s happening?' 12Look at these wicked people — enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
15If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
English Standard Version
Chapter 73
2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. 7Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. 11And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. 18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.New International Version
3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
12This is what the wicked are like-- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
New King James Version
