Psalms 72

1A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!

Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israël Deus, his qui recto sunt corde !

2But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes, pene effusi sunt gressus mei:

3Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.

quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.

4For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.

Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.

5They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.

In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.

6Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.

Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.

7Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.

Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum; transierunt in affectum cordis.

8They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.

Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.

9They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.

Posuerunt in cælum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.

10Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.

Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.

11And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?

12Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.

Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo obtinuerunt divitias.

13And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.

Et dixi: Ergo sine causa justificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas,

14And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.

et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.

15If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.

Si dicebam: Narrabo sic; ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.

16I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:

Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc; labor est ante me:

17Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.

donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intelligam in novissimis eorum.

18But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.

Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis; dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.

19How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.

Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem? subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.

20As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.

Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.

21For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:

Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt;

22And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.

et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi:

23I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.

ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.

24Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.

Tenuisti manum dexteram meam, et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.

25For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?

Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?

26For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.

Defecit caro mea et cor meum; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in æternum.

27For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.

Quia ecce qui elongant se a te peribunt; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.

28But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est; ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annuntiem omnes prædicationes tuas in portis filiæ Sion.