Psalms 73-75

1Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

5They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

12Behold, these are the wicked— always carefree as they increase their wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

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

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.

19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

20Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

21When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

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

24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

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

27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

1Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?

2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance— Mount Zion, where You dwell.

3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed.

4Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs,

5like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees

6and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.

7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.

8They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land.

9There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.

10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?

11Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand? Stretch it out to destroy them!

12Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.

13You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

15You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.

16The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.

17You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter.

18Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.

19Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.

20Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; may the poor and needy praise Your name.

22Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.

23Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries, the uproar of Your enemies that ascends continually.

1We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your Name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works.

2“When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.

3When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars. Selah

4I say to the proud, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn.

5Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’”

6For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert,

7but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.

8For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.

9But I will proclaim Him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

10“All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be exalted.”