Psalm 72 — The Holy Bible

A psalm for Asaph.

How good God is to Israel,

To the upright in heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost shaken;

My steps had nearly slipped.

For I was jealous of the lawless

When I beheld the peace of sinners.

For there is no upward gaze at their death

Nor steadfastness in their chastening.

They are not in difficulties as other men,

And they shall not be chastened with other men.

For this reason arrogance mastered them;

They clothed themselves with their wrongdoing and ungodliness;

Their wrongdoing shall go forth as from fatness;

They passed through to their heart's intent.

They thought and spoke in evil;

They spoke in wrongdoing to the height.

They set their mouth against heaven,

And their tongue passed through the earth.

For this reason my people shall return here;

Days of fullness shall be found in them.

They said, “How does God know?

Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

Behold, these are sinners, and they prosper;

They possess wealth in this age.

And I said, “Surely in vain have I kept my heart righteous,

And washed my hands with the innocent.”

For all day long I was scourged,

And my reproof persisted through the night.

If I should speak, I would describe it thus:

Behold, I am breaking covenant with the generation of your children.

And I sought to understand this;

It was difficult in my sight,

Until I came into God's holy place

And understood their end.

Surely, for their deceits You appointed deceits for them;

You cast them down in their exaltation.

Oh, how they came into desolation suddenly!

They ceased to be; they perished in their lawlessness.

Like a dream to one who is awakened,

So, O Lord, You shall despise their image in Your city.

For my heart was kindled,

And my reins were changed,

And I was despised, and did not know;

I became like a beast before You.

And I am continually with You;

You hold fast my right hand;

With Your counsel You guide me,

And with glory You take hold of me.

For what is there in heaven for me but You,

And what do I desire on earth besides You?

My heart and my flesh fail,

O God of my heart; and God is my portion forever.

For behold, those who keep themselves far away from You shall perish;

You destroy away from You all who act unfaithfully.

But as for me, it is good to cling to God,

To put my hope in the Lord,

That I may proclaim all Your praises

In the gates of the daughter of Zion.