God's Ways Vindicated

1 {A Psalm of Asaph} Truly God is loving unto Israel, even unto such as are of a clean heart.

1 {A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

1 A Psalm of Asaph.Surely God is ()good to Israel,To those who are ()pure in heart!

1 BOOK III(Psalms 73–89)A psalm of Asaph.(A) God is indeed good to Israel,to the pure in heart.()

1 God is indeed good to Israel, to those pure in heart.

2 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone; my treadings had well nigh slipped.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

2 But as for me, ()my feet came close to stumbling,My steps ()had almost slipped.

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;my steps nearly went astray.()

2 Now as for me, my feet nearly stumbled, as I almost lost my step.

3 And why? I was grieved at the wicked, to see the ungodly in such prosperity.

3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

3 For I was ()envious of the ()arrogantAs I saw the ()prosperity of the wicked.

3 For I envied the arrogant;I saw the prosperity of the wicked.()

3 For I was envious of the proud when I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they are in no peril of death, but stand fast like a palace.

4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

4 For there are no pains in their death,And their ()body is fat.

4 They have an easy time until they die,()and their bodies are well fed.()()

4 For there is no struggle at their deaths, and their bodies are healthy.

5 They come in no misfortune like other folk; neither are they plagued like other men.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

5 They are ()not ()in trouble as other ()men,Nor are they ()plagued ()like mankind.

5 They are not in trouble like others;they are not afflicted like most people.()

5 They do not experience problems common to ordinary people; they aren't afflicted as others are.

6 And this is the cause that they be so puffed up in pride, and overwhelmed with cruelty and unrighteousness.

6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

6 Therefore pride is ()their necklace;The ()garment of violence covers them.

6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,and violence covers them like a garment.()

6 Therefore pride is their necklace and violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes swell with fatness, and they do even what they lust.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

7 Their eye ()bulges from ()fatness;The imaginations of their heart ()run riot.

7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;the imaginations of their hearts run wild.()

7 Their eyes bulge from obesity and the imaginations of their mind cross the border into sin.

8 They corrupt others, and speak blasphemies maliciously; proud and presumptuous are their words.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

8 They ()mock and ()wickedly speak of oppression;They ()speak from on high.

8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;they arrogantly threaten oppression.()

8 In their mockery they speak evil; from their arrogant position they speak oppression.

9 They stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, and their tongue goeth through the world.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

9 They have ()set their mouth ()against the heavens,And their tongue ()parades through the earth.

9 They set their mouths against heaven,and their tongues strut across the earth.()

9 They choose to speak against heaven; while they talk about things on earth.

10 Therefore fall the people unto them, and there out suck they no small advantage.

10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

10 Therefore ()his people return to this place,And waters of ()abundance are ()drunk by them.

10 Therefore His people turn to them()and drink in their overflowing words.()()

10 Therefore God's people return there and drink it all in like water until they're satiated.

11 "Tush," say they, "How should God perceive it? Is there knowledge in the most high?"

11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

11 They say, “()How does God know?And is there knowledge ()with the Most High?”

11 The wicked say, “How can God know?Does the Most High know everything?”()

11 Then they say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"

12 Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world, these have riches in possession;

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

12 Behold, ()these are the wicked;And always ()at ease, they have increased in wealth.

12 Look at them—the wicked!They are always at ease,and they increase their wealth.()

12 Just look at these wicked people! They're perpetually carefree as they increase their wealth.

13 and I said, "Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency?

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

13 Surely ()in vain I have ()kept my heart pureAnd ()washed my hands in innocence;

13 Did I purify my heartand wash my hands in innocence for nothing?()

13 I kept my heart pure for nothing and kept my hands clean from guilt.

14 Wherefore should I be then punished daily, and be chastened every morning?"

14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

14 For I have been stricken ()all day longAnd ()()chastened every morning.

14 For I am afflicted all day longand punished every morning.()

14 For I suffer all day long and I am punished every morning.

15 Yea, I had almost also said even as they do; but lo, then should I have condemned the generation of thy children.

15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”Behold, I would have betrayed the ()generation of Your children.

15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,I would have betrayed Your people.()()

15 If I say, "I will talk like this," I would betray a generation of your children.

16 Then thought I to understand this; but it was too hard for me,

16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

16 When I (W)pondered to understand this,It was ()troublesome in my sight

16 When I tried to understand all this,it seemed hopeless()()

16 When I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me

17 until I went into the Sanctuary of God. Then understood I the end of these men.

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

17 Until I came into the ()()sanctuary of God;Then I perceived their ()end.

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.Then I understood their destiny.()

17 until I entered the sanctuaries of God. Then I understood their destiny.

18 Namely, how thou hast set them in a slippery places, that thou mayest cast them down headlong and destroy them.

18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

18 Surely You set them in ()slippery places;You cast them down to ()()destruction.

18 Indeed, You put them in slippery places;You make them fall into ruin.()

18 You have certainly set them in slippery places; you will make them fall to their ruin.

19 O how suddenly do they consume, perish and come to a fearful end!

19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

19 How they are ()()destroyed in a moment!They are utterly swept away by ()sudden terrors!

19 How suddenly they become a desolation!They come to an end, swept away by terrors.()

19 How desolate they quickly become, completely destroyed by calamities.

20 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh, so makest thou their image to vanish out of the city.

20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

20 Like a ()dream when one awakes,O Lord, when ()aroused, You will ()despise their ()form.

20 Like one waking from a dream,Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.()

20 Like a dream when one awakens, Lord, you will despise their image when you arise.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and it went even through my veins.

21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

21 When my ()heart was embitteredAnd I was ()pierced ()within,

21 When I became embitteredand my innermost being() was wounded,()

21 When I chose to be bitter I was emotionally pained.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant, even as it were a beast before thee.

22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

22 Then I was ()senseless and ignorant;I was like ()a ()beast ()before You.

22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;I was an unthinking animal toward You.()

22 Then, I was too stupid and didn't realize I was acting like a wild animal with you.

23 Nevertheless, I am always by thee; thou holdest me by my righthand.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

23 Nevertheless ()I am continually with You;You have taken hold of my right hand.

23 Yet I am always with You;You hold my right hand.()

23 But now I am always with you, for you keep holding my right hand.

24 Thou leadest me with thy counsel, and afterward receivest me unto glory.

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

24 With Your counsel You will ()guide me,And afterward ()receive me ()to glory.

24 You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me up in glory.()()

24 You will guide me with your wise advice, and later you will receive me with honor.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? There is nothing upon earth, that I desire in comparison of thee.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

25 ()Whom have I in heaven but You?And ()besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

25 Who do I have in heaven but You?And I desire nothing on earth but You.()

25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire nothing on this earth.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

26 My ()flesh and my heart may fail,But God is the ()strength of my heart and my ()portion forever.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength() of my heart,my portion forever.()

26 My body and mind may fail, but God is my strength and my portion forever.

27 For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; thou destroyest all them that commit fornication against thee.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

27 For, behold, ()those who are far from You will ()perish;You have ()destroyed all those who ()()are unfaithful to You.

27 Those far from You will certainly perish;You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.()

27 Those far from you will perish; you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.

28 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the LORD God, and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Zion.

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.

28 But as for me, ()the nearness of God is my good;I have made the Lord ()God my ()refuge,That I may ()tell of all Your works.

28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.I have made the Lord God my refuge,so I can tell about all You do.()

28 As for me, how good for me it is that God is near! I have made the Lord GOD my refuge so I can tell about all your deeds. An instruction of Asaph

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