Psalm 73

God Is My Strength and Portion Forever

BOOK THREE

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly a slipped. 3 b For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the c wicked.

4 For there are no 1 pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm. 5 d They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;
Violence covers them e like a garment. 7 f Their 2 eyes bulge with abundance;
They have more than heart could wish. 8 g They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;
They h speak 3 loftily. 9 They set their mouth i against the heavens,
And their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here,
j And waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11 And they say, k "How does God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches. 13 Surely I have 4 cleansed my heart in l vain,
And washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning. 15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was 5 too painful for me - 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their m end.

18 Surely n You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction. 19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was 6 vexed in my mind. 22 o I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand. 24 p You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory. 25 q Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 r My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the 7 strength of my heart and my s portion forever.

27 For indeed, t those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who 8 desert You for harlotry. 28 But it is good for me to u draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may v declare all Your works.

  1. Cross References
    Job 12:5
    A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; It is made ready for those whose feet slip.
  2. Cross References
    Psalms 37:1
    Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
    Psalms 37:7
    Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
    Proverbs 23:17
    Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day.
  3. Cross References
    Job 21:5 - 16
    Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your mouth.
    Jeremiah 12:1
    Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
  4. Cross References
    Job 21:9
    Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 109:18
    As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, So let it enter his body like water, And like oil into his bones.
  6. Cross References
    Job 15:27
    Though he has covered his face with his fatness, And made his waist heavy with fat.
    Jeremiah 5:28
    They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 53:1
    The fool has said in his heart, " There is no God." They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.
  8. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:18
    For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 13:6
    Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 75:8
    For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down.
  11. Cross References
    Job 22:13
    And you say, 'What does God know? Can He judge through the deep darkness?
  12. Cross References
    Job 21:15
    Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
    Job 35:3
    For you say, 'What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?
    Malachi 3:14
    You have said, 'It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts?
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 37:38
    But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; The future of the wicked shall be cut off.
    Psalms 55:23
    But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 35:6
    Let their way be dark and slippery, And let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 92:6
    A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.
  16. Cross References
    Psalms 32:8
    I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
    Psalms 48:14
    For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.
    Isaiah 58:11
    The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
  17. Cross References
    Philippians 3:8
    Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 84:2
    My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 16:5
    O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 119:155
    Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes.
  21. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:22
    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
    James 4:8
    Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
  22. Cross References
    Psalms 116:10
    I believed, therefore I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted.
    2 Corinthians 4:13
    And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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