Psalm 73-74

New International Version

² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;^(B)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.^(C)
3 For I envied^(D) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(E)

⁴ They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
5 They are free^(F) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride^(G) is their necklace;^(H)
    they clothe themselves with violence.^(I)
7 From their callous hearts^(J) comes iniquity^[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;^(K)
    with arrogance^(L) they threaten oppression.^(M)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,^(N) they go on amassing wealth.^(O)

¹³ Surely in vain^(P) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.^(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,^(R)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand^(S) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary^(T) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.^(U)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(V)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(W)
19 How suddenly^(X) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(Y) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(Z) when one awakes;^(AA)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(AB)

²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless^(AC) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast^(AD) before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(AE)
24 You guide^(AF) me with your counsel,^(AG)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?^(AH)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart^(AJ) may fail,^(AK)
    but God is the strength^(AL) of my heart
    and my portion^(AM) forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;^(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(AO) to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(AP)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(AQ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(AR)

⁴ Your foes roared^(BC) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards^(BD) as signs.
⁵ They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.^(BE)
6 They smashed all the carved^(BF) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
⁷ They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled^(BG) the dwelling place^(BH) of your Name.^(BI)
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush^(BJ) them completely!”
    They burned^(BK) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

⁹ We are given no signs from God;^(BL)
    no prophets^(BM) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
¹⁰ How long^(BN) will the enemy mock^(BO) you, God?
    Will the foe revile^(BP) your name forever?
¹¹ Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?^(BQ)
    Take it from the folds of your garment^(BR) and destroy them!

¹² But God is my King^(BS) from long ago;
    he brings salvation^(BT) on the earth.

¹³ It was you who split open the sea^(BU) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster^(BV) in the waters.
¹⁴ It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan^(BW)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.^(BX)
15 It was you who opened up springs^(BY) and streams;
    you dried up^(BZ) the ever-flowing rivers.
¹⁶ The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.^(CA)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries^(CB) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.^(CC)

¹⁸ Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people^(CD) have reviled your name.
¹⁹ Do not hand over the life of your dove^(CE) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted^(CF) people forever.
²⁰ Have regard for your covenant,^(CG)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places^(CH) of the land.
²¹ Do not let the oppressed^(CI) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy^(CJ) praise your name.
²² Rise up,^(CK) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools^(CL) mock you all day long.
²³ Do not ignore the clamor^(CM) of your adversaries,^(CN)
    the uproar^(CO) of your enemies,^(CP) which rises continually.