Psalms 73

mizmor le'asaf akh tov leyisra'el elohim levare levav

A psalm of Asaph. God is truly good to Israel, to those whose heart is pure.

va'ani kimat (ntvy) [natayu] raglay ke'ayin (shfkhh) [shuppekhu] ashuray

As for me, my feet had almost strayed, my steps were nearly led off course,

ki-qinneti baholelim shelom resha'im ereh

for I envied the wanton; I saw the wicked at ease.

ki en khartsubbot lemotam uvari ulam

Death has no pangs for them; their body is healthy.

ba'amal enosh enemo ve'im-adam lo yenugga'u

They have no part in human travail; they are not afflicted like the rest of humankind.

lakhen anaqatmo ga'avah ya'ataf-shit khamas lamo

So pride adorns their necks, lawlessness enwraps them as a mantle.

yatsa mekhelev enemo averu maskiyyot levav

Fat shuts out their eyes; their fancies are extravagant.

yamiqu vidabberu vera osheq mimmarom yedabberu

They scoff and plan evil; from their eminence they plan wrongdoing.

shattu vashamayim pihem uleshonam tihalakh ba'arets

They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth.

lakhen (yshyv) [yashuv] ammo halom ume male yimmatsu lamo

So they pound this people again and again, until they are drained of their very last tear.

ve'ameru ekhah yada-el veyesh de'ah ve'elyon

Then they say, “How could God know? Is there knowledge with the Most High?”

hinneh-elleh resha'im veshalve olam hisgu-khayil

Such are the wicked; ever tranquil, they amass wealth.

akh-riq zikkiti levavi va'erkhats beniqqayon kappay

It was for nothing that I kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence,

va'ehi nagua kol-hayyom vetokhakhti labbeqarim

seeing that I have been constantly afflicted, that each morning brings new punishments.

im-amarti asapperah khemo hinneh dor banekha vagadeti

Had I decided to say these things, I should have been false to the circle of Your disciples.

va'akhashevah lada'at zot amal (hy) [hu] ve'enay

So I applied myself to understand this, but it seemed a hopeless task

ad-avo el-miqdeshe-el avinah le'akharitam

till I entered God’s sanctuary and reflected on their fate.

akh bakhalaqot tashit lamo hippaltam lemashu'ot

You surround them with flattery; You make them fall through blandishments.

ekh hayu leshammah kheraga safu tammu min-ballahot

How suddenly are they ruined, wholly swept away by terrors.

kakhalom mehaqits adonay ba'ir tsalmam tivzeh

When You are aroused You despise their image, as one does a dream after waking, O my Sovereign.

ki yitkhammets levavi vekhilyotay eshtonan

My mind was stripped of its reason, my feelings were numbed.

va'ani-va'ar velo eda behemot hayiti immakh

I was a dolt, without knowledge; I was brutish toward You.

va'ani tamid immakh akhazta beyad-yemini

Yet I was always with You, You held my right hand;

ba'atsatekha tankheni ve'akhar kavod tiqqakheni

You guided me by Your counsel and led me toward honor.

mi-li vashamayim ve'immekha lo-khafatsti va'arets

Whom else have I in heaven? And having You, I want no one on earth.

kalah she'eri ulevavi tsur-levavi vekhelqi elohim le'olam

My body and mind fail; but God is the stay of my mind, my portion forever.

ki-hinneh rekheqekha yovedu hitsmattah kol-zoneh mimmekka

Those who keep far from You perish; You annihilate all who are untrue to You.

va'ani qirvat elohim li-tov shatti badonay Adonai makhsi lesapper kol-malakhotekha

As for me, nearness to God is good; I have made the Sovereign GOD my refuge, that I may recount all Your works.