rd

Psalms 73

1 The Prophet teacheth by his example that neither the worldlie prosperitie of the ungodlie, 14 Nor yet the affliction of the good ought to discourage God’s children: but rather ought to move us to consider our Father’s providence, & to cause us to reverence God’s judgements, 19 For asmuch as the wicked vanish away, 24 And the godlie enter into life everlasting, 28 In hope whereof he resigneth him self into God’s hands.
A psalme to Asáph.
1.Yet aGod is good to Israél: even, to the pure in heart.
2.As for me, my feet were almost gone: my steps had welnere slipt.
3.For I freated at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4.For there are bno bands in their death, but they are lusty and strong.
5.They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
6.cTherefore pride is as a chain unto them, and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
7.Their eyes stand out for fatness: ^they have more then heart can wish.
8.They are licencious, and speak wickedly of their oppression: they talk presumptuously.
9.They dset their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10.Therefore his epeople turn hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11.And they fsay, How doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
12.Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
13.Certainly I have cleansed mine heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
14.For daily have I been punished, and chastened every morning.
15.If I say, gI wil judge thus, behold the generation of thy children: I have trespaced.
16.Then thought I to know this, but it was too painful for me,
17.Until I went into the hSanctuarie of God: then understood I their end.
18.Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them down into desolation.
19.How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and ihorribly consumed,
20.As a dream when one awaketh! ô Lord, when kthou raisest us up, thou shalt make their image despised.
21.Certainly mine heart was vexed, & I was pricked in my reines:
22.So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a lbeast before thee.
23.Yet I was alway mwith thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24.Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25.Whom have I in nheaven but thee? and I have desired none in the earth with thee.
26.My flesh faileth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my oportion for ever.
27.For lo, they that withdraw them selves from thee, shal perish: thou destroyest all them that pgo whoring from thee.
28.As for me, it is good for me qto draw near to God: therefore I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

Notes

1-a.
As it were between hope & despair he brasts forth into this affection, being assured that God would continue his favour toward such as were godly in deed, and not hypocrites.
4-b.
The wicked in this life live at pleasure, and are not drawn to death like prisoners: that is by sickness, which is death’s messenger.
6-c.
They glory in their pride as some do in their chains: and in cruelty, as some do in apparel.
7-^.
Ebr., They pass the desires of the heart.
9-d.
They blaspheme God and fear not his power, and rail upon men, because they esteem themselves above all others.
10-e.
Not only the reprobate, but also the people of God, often times fall back, seeing the prosperous estate of the wicked, and are overwhelmed with sorrows, thinking that God considers not aright the estate of the godly.
11-f.
Thus the flesh moves even the godly to dispute with God touching their poor estate and the prosperity of the wicked.
15-g.
If I give place to this wicked thought, I offend against your providence, seeing you dispose all things most wisely, and preserve your children in their greatest dangers.
17-h.
Until I entered into your school and learned by your word and holie Spirit, that you order all thing most wisely and justly.
19-i.
By your fearful judgement.
20-k.
When you open our eyes to consider your heavenly felicity, we contemn all their vain pomp.
22-l.
For the more that man goes about by his own reason to seek God’s judgements, the more does he declare himself a beast.
23-m.
By faith I was assured that your providence did watch always over me to preserve me.
25-n.
He sought neither help nor comfort of any save of God only.
26-o.
He teaches us to deny ourselves, to have God our whole sufficiency, and only contentment.
27-p.
That is, forsake you to seek others.
28-q.
Though all the world shrink from God, yet he promises to trust in him and to magnify his works.