Chapter: Psalm 73

Wisdom Psalms

Some Psalms reflect the wisdom movement in Israel which taught that the foundation of wisdom is faith in God and reverence for him. Wisdom psalms are meditations on the good life, the blessings of living the wise way of life of dependence on God as opposed to the way destruction which the foolish live who rely on themselves to work out their own destiny.

Examples: Psalms 37, 49, 73

73

Quam bonus Isræl!

¹ Truly, God is loving to Israel, *

even to those who have a clean heart.

² Nevertheless, my feet had almost stumbled; *

my steps had nearly slipped.

³ For I was envious of the proud *

when I saw the ungodly in such prosperity.

⁴ For they are in no fear of death, *

but their bodies are healthy and strong.

⁵ They come to no misfortune like other folk, *

neither are they afflicted like others.

⁶ Therefore they wear pride as a necklace, *

and they wrap themselves with violence as with a garment.

⁷ Their eyes swell with greed, *

and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

⁸ Their talk is malice and mockery; *

they have proud looks, and tyrannous words are on their lips.

⁹ For they set their mouth against the heavens, *

and their evil speech spreads through the world.

¹⁰ Therefore the people turn to them, *

and find no fault in them.

¹¹ They say, “How should God perceive it? *

Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

¹² Behold, these are the ungodly; *

they prosper in their ways, and they have riches in possession.

¹³ I said, “Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart *

and washed my hands in innocence.”

¹⁴ All the day long have I been afflicted, *

and chastened every morning.

¹⁵ Indeed, had I spoken as they do, *

then would I have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶ When I sought to understand this, *

it was too hard for me,

¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; *

then I understood their end.

¹⁸ Surely, you set them in slippery places, *

and cast them down, and destroy them.

¹⁹ Oh, how suddenly are they consumed; *

they perish and come to a fearful end.

²⁰ Indeed, like a dream when one awakens, *

so shall you make their image vanish out of the city.

²¹ Thus my heart was grieved, *

and I was wounded within;

²² So foolish was I, and ignorant, *

as if I were a beast before you.

²³ Nevertheless, I am always with you, *

for you hold me by my right hand.

²⁴ You shall guide me with your counsel, *

and after that receive me with glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? *

And there is no one on earth whom I desire in comparison with you.

²⁶ Though my flesh and my heart fail me, *

God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

²⁷ For behold, those who forsake you shall perish; *

you destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸ But it is good for me to hold fast to God, to put my trust in the Lord God, *

and to speak of all your works in the gates of the city of Zion.