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73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart. 73:2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had well nigh slipped. 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 73:4 For they have no pangs;their bodies are sound and sleek. 73:5 They are not in trouble as other men are;they are not stricken like other men. 73:6 Therefore pride is their necklace;violence covers them as a garment. 73:7 Their eyes swell out with fatness, their hearts overflow with follies. 73:8 They scoff and speak with malice;loftily they threaten oppression. 73:9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 73:10 Therefore the people turn and praise them;and find no fault in them. 73:11 And they say, 'How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?' 73:12 Behold, these are the wicked;always at ease, they increase in riches. 73:13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 73:14 For all the day long I have been stricken, and chastened every morning. 73:15 If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' I would have been untrue to the generation of thy children. 73:16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 73:17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;then I perceived their end. 73:18 Truly thou dost set them in slippery places;thou dost make them fall to ruin. 73:19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 73:20 They are like a dream when one awakes, on awaking you despise their phantoms. 73:21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 73:22 I was stupid and ignorant, I was like a beast toward thee. 73:23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee;thou dost hold my right hand. 73:24 Thou dost guide me with thy counsel, and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory. 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee. 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever. 73:27 For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish;thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee. 73:28 But for me it is good to be near God;I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.