A Song of Frustration – Psalm 73

¹Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. ³For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. ⁵They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. ⁶Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment. ⁷Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit. ⁸They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. ⁹They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth. ¹⁰Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance. ¹¹They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” ¹²Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches. ¹³Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence, ¹⁴For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning. ¹⁵If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children. ¹⁶When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me, ¹⁷until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end. ¹⁸Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. ¹⁹How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors. ²⁰As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. ²¹For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart. ²²I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you. ²³Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. ²⁴You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. ²⁵Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you. ²⁶My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ²⁷For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you. ²⁸But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.