Psalm
73 Monday Readings 4
Israel, how good God is * to
those who are pure of heart!
Yet my feet had almost stumbled; * my legs were nearly gone,
when I envied the boasters, * begrudged the prosperity of the
wicked.
For them there are no struggles * their bodies are sound and
sleek.
Theirs is not the toil of mortals; * they are not overworked
like others.
And so pride serves as their necklace; * the robe of
injustice covers them.
Their eyes glisten more than milk; * the fancies of their
hearts know no limits.
They scoff and speak against the Bringer of evil; * of
oppression from the Exalted they speak.
They set their mouth against heaven; * and their
tongue ranges through the underworld.
And so they quickly gorged themselves, * and sucked up the
waters of the ocean.
They said, “How can God know? * Does the Most High know
anything?”
Such, then, are the wicked, * who, mindless of the Eternal,
increased their wealth.
Quite in vain have I kept my heart clean, * and washed my hands
in innocence,
was kicked around all day, * and punished each morning anew.
If I had said, “I will speak this way,” * I would have
betrayed the assembly of your sons.
And when I tried to understand this, * the injustice of it
was on my mind,
until I entered God's
sanctuary * and perceived their final destiny.
Surely you will transplant them to Perdition, * making them fall
into Desolation.
How quickly they will belong to Devastation, * utterly swept away
by Terrors!
Like a dream after awaking, Lord, * you will disregard them in
the City of phantoms.
But when my mind had soured, * and my feelings dried up,
I became a fool without understanding, * a mere beast in
your sight.
But I will always be with you; * take hold of my right
hand;
into your council lead me, * and with glory take me to
yourself.
What shall I lack in heaven with you? * With you I desire nothing
on earth.
My flesh and my heart may waste away, O Mountain, * but my heart
and my body, God, will be eternal,
while those who go far from you will perish. * Destroy all who
adulterously desert you!
For me, God’s nearness will
be my happiness. * In the Lord Yahweh I have put my trust, * telling about all
your works.
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