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Psalms 73-77

Psalms 73

1God certainly is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

2But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat.

5They are not in trouble like other people, Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.

6Therefore arrogance is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.

7Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart overflow.

8They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

9They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

10Therefore his people return here, And abundant waters are drunk by them.

11They say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

14For I have been stricken all day long, And punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight

17Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

18You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin.

19How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

20Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.

21When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

22Then I was stupid and ignorant; I was like an animal before You.

23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

24You will guide me with Your plan, And afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with You, I desire nothing on earth.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.

Psalms 74

1God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.

3Step toward the irreparable ruins; The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.

4Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own signs as signs.

5It seems like one bringing up His axe into a forest of trees.

6And now they break down all its carved work With axe and hammers.

7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.

8They said in their heart, “Let’s completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet, Nor is there anyone among us who knows how long.

10How long, God, will the enemy taunt You? Shall the enemy treat Your name disrespectfully forever?

11Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Extend it from Your chest and destroy them!

12Yet God is my King from long ago, Who performs acts of salvation in the midst of the earth.

13You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

15You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams.

16Yours is the day, Yours also is the night; You have prepared the light and the sun.

17You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have created summer and winter.

18Remember this, LORD, that the enemy has taunted You, And a foolish people has treated Your name disrespectfully.

19Do not give the soul of Your turtledove to the wild animal; Do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

20Consider the covenant; For the dark places of the land are full of the places of violence.

21May the oppressed person not return dishonored; May the afflicted and the needy praise Your name.

22Arise, God, and plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish person taunts You all day long.

23Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You, which ascends continually.

Psalms 75

1We give thanks to You, God, we give thanks, For Your name is near; People declare Your wondrous works.

2“When I select an appointed time, It is I who judge fairly.

3The earth and all who inhabit it are unsteady; It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah

4I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn;

5Do not lift up your horn on high, Do not speak with insolent pride.’ ”

6For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation;

7But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.

8For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; It is well mixed, and He pours out of this; Certainly all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink its dregs.

9But as for me, I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10And He will cut off all the horns of the wicked, But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

Psalms 76

1God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

2His tabernacle is in Salem; His dwelling place also is in Zion.

3There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah

4You are resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey.

5The stouthearted were plundered, They sank into sleep; And none of the warriors could use his hands.

6At Your rebuke, God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

7You, You indeed are to be feared, And who may stand in Your presence, once You are angry?

8You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still

9When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah

10For the wrath of mankind shall praise You; You will encircle Yourself with a remnant of wrath.

11Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; All who are around Him are to bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.

12He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.

Psalms 77

1My voice rises to God, and I will cry aloud; My voice rises to God, and He will listen to me.

2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; In the night my hand was stretched out and did not grow weary; My soul refused to be comforted.

3When I remember God, then I am restless; When I sigh, then my spirit feels weak. Selah

4You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5I have considered the days of old, The years of long ago.

6I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders:

7Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again?

8Has His favor ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever?

9Has God forgotten to be gracious, Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah

10Then I said, “It is my grief, That the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

11I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; I will certainly remember Your wonders of old.

12I will meditate on all Your work, And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.

13Your way, God, is holy; What god is great like our God?

14You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.

15By Your power You have redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16The waters saw You, God; The waters saw You, they were in anguish; The ocean depths also trembled.

17The clouds poured out water; The skies sounded out; Your arrows flashed here and there.

18The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.

19Your way was in the sea And Your paths in the mighty waters, And Your footprints were not known.

20You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.