73:1 A psalm by Asaph.

Certainly God is good to Israel, ² 

and to those whose motives are pure! ³ 

73:2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;

my feet almost slid out from under me. ⁴ 

73:3 For I envied those who are proud,

as I observed ⁵  the prosperity ⁶  of the wicked.

73:4 For they suffer no pain; ⁷ 

their bodies ⁸  are strong and well-fed. ⁹ 

73:5 They are immune to the trouble common to men;

they do not suffer as other men do. ¹⁰ 

73:6 Arrogance is their necklace, ¹¹ 

and violence their clothing. ¹² 

73:7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; ¹³ 

their thoughts are sinful. ¹⁴ 

73:8 They mock ¹⁵  and say evil things; ¹⁶ 

they proudly threaten violence. ¹⁷ 

73:9 They speak as if they rule in heaven,

and lay claim to the earth. ¹⁸ 

73:10 Therefore they have more than enough food to eat,

and even suck up the water of the sea. ¹⁹ 

73:11 They say, “How does God know what we do?

Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?” ²⁰ 

73:12 Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, ²¹ 

those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. ²² 

73:13 I concluded, ²³  “Surely in vain I have kept my motives ²⁴  pure

and maintained a pure lifestyle. ²⁵ 

73:14 I suffer all day long,

and am punished every morning.”

1:1 In the beginning ¹  God ²  created ³  the heavens and the earth. ⁴