Psalm 73

Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.

Common Metre Tunes

   1  Yet God is good to Israel,
         To each pure-hearted one.
      With me my steps had nearly slipped
         My feet were almost gone.

   2  For I was envious, and grudg�d
         The foolish ones to see
      When I perceived that wicked men
         Enjoyed prosperity.

   3  Because their strength continues firm,
         Their death from bands is free.
      They are not toiled like other men,
         Nor plagued as others be.

   4  Their pride doth therefore like a chain
         Encompass them about;
      And, as a garment, violence
         Doth cover them throughout.

   5  Their eyes stand out with fat, they have
         More than their hearts could wish.
      They are corrupt; their talk of wrong
         Both lewd and lofty is.

   6  They set their mouth against the heavens
         In their blaspheming talk;
      And their reproaching tongue at large
         Throughout the earth doth walk.

   7  His people therefore, oftentimes
         Look back, and turn about;
      And in abundance unto them
         The waters are wrung out.

   8  And thus they say, How can it be
         That God these things doth know?
      Or, Can there in the Highest be
         Knowledge of things below?

   9  Behold, how these the wicked ones
         Do prosper at their will
      In worldly things; how they increase
         In wealth and riches still!

  10  I verily have sought in vain
         My heart to purify;
      And vainly also washed my hands
         In innocence have I.

  11  For daily, and all day throughout,
         Great plagues I suffered have;
      Yea, every morning I anew
         Did chastisement receive.

  12  If in this manner foolishly
         To speak I would intend,
      Thy children's generation then
         Behold I should offend.

  13  When I this thought to know, it was
         Too hard a thing for me;
      Till to God's holy place I went,
         Then I their end did see.

  14  Them set upon a slippery place
         Assuredly thou hast;
      And suddenly didst thou, O Lord,
         Them to destruction cast.

  15  How in a moment suddenly
         To ruin brought are they!
      With fearful terrors utterly
         They are consumed away.

  16  Even like an empty dream when one
         From sleeping doth arise,
      So thou, when thou awakest, Lord,
         Their image shalt despise.

  17  Thus grieved within me was my heart,
         And me my reins oppressed;
      So rude was I, and ignorant,
         And in thy sight a beast.

  18  Yet notwithstanding this, O Lord,
         I ever am with thee;
      Thou hast me held by my right hand;
         And still upholdest me.

  19  With thy good counsel while I live
         Thou wilt me safely guide;
      And into glory afterward
         Receive me to abide.

  20  O whom have I in heavens high
        But thee, O Lord, alone?
      And in the earth whom I desire
         Besides thee there is none.

  21  My flesh and heart do faint and fail,
         But God my heart sustains;
      The strength and portion of my heart
         He evermore remains.

  22  For lo, they that are far from thee
         Forever perish shall;
      And as for those who from thee stray,
         Thou hast destroyed them all.

  23  But surely it is good for me
         That I draw near to God:
      In God I trust, that all thy works
         I may declare abroad.


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