Psalm 73

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Truly God is [only] good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they smitten and plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow [with follies].

8 They scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily [from on high, maliciously and blasphemously].

9 They set their mouths against and speak down from heaven, and their tongues swagger through the earth [invading even heaven with blasphemy and smearing earth with slanders].

10 Therefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup [offered by the wicked] are [blindly] drained by them.

11 And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Surely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been smitten and plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 Had I spoken thus [and given expression to my feelings], I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.

16 But when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end.

18 [After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction.

19 How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!

20 As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.

21 For my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart [as with the sharp fang of an adder].

22 So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.

24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor andglory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You will destroy all who are false to You and like [spiritual] harlots depart from You.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

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Psalm 94

1 O Lord God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, O God, You to Whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!

2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render to the proud a fit compensation!

3 Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph and exult?

4 They pour out arrogant words, speaking hard things; all the evildoers boast loftily.

5 They crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage.

6 They slay the widow and the transient stranger and murder the unprotected orphan.

7 Yet they say, The Lord does not see, neither does the God of Jacob notice it.

8 Consider and understand, you stupid ones among the people! And you [self-confident] fools, when will you become wise?

9 He Who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He Who formed the eye, shall He not see?

10 He Who disciplines and instructs the nations, shall He not punish, He Who teaches man knowledge?

11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile—only a breath).

12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law,

13 That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

14 For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage.

15 For justice will return to the [uncompromisingly] righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

17 Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in [the land where there is] silence.

18 When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, held me up.

19 In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You—they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under [the sacred name of] law?

21 They band themselves together against the life of the [consistently] righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge.

23 And He will turn back upon them their own iniquity and will wipe them out by means of their own wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.

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Psalm 75

To the Chief Musician; [set to the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” A Psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks; Your wondrous works declare that Your [a]Name is near and they who invoke Your Name rehearse Your wonders.

2 When the proper time has come [for executing My judgments], I will judge uprightly [says the Lord].

3 When the earth totters, and all the inhabitants of it, it is I Who will poise and keep steady its pillars. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

4 I said to the arrogant and boastful, Deal not arrogantly [do not boast]; and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn [of personal aggrandizement].

5 Lift not up your [aggressive] horn on high, speak not with a stiff neck and insolent arrogance.

6 For not from the east nor from the west nor from the south come promotion andlifting up.

7 But God is the Judge! He puts down one and lifts up another.

8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup [of His wrath], and the wine foams andis red, well mixed; and He pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth must drain it and drink its dregs.

9 But I will declare and rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the ungodly also will I cut off [says the Lord], but the horns of the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be exalted.

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Isaiah 55Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

55 Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

3 Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.

4 Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples.

5 Behold, you [a][Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

6 Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon.

8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.

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