Psalms 73

1 A Psalm. Of Asaph. Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],

3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

because I envied those who proudly [said that they did not need God], and I saw that they prospered [even though] they were wicked.

4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.

5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.

6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

So they are proud, and their being proud is [like] a necklace [that they show to others], and they show off their violent actions like people show off their beautiful robes.

7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.

8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

They scoff at [other people], and they talk about doing evil things to them; they are proud while they plan to oppress others.

9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

They say evil things about [God who is in] heaven [MTY], and they talk boastfully/proudly about things [that they have done] here on the earth.

10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

The result is that people listen to what they say and praise them and do not think that they have done anything that is wrong.

11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

Wicked people say [to themselves], “God will certainly not [RHQ] know [what we have done]; [people say that] he is greater than any other god, but he does not know [everything].”

12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.

13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

[So, God], I think it is useless that I have [RHQ] always done what you want me to, and that I have not sinned.

14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.

15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.

16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].

17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

But when I went to your temple, [you spoke to me], and I understood what will happen to the wicked people [after they die].

18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

[Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.

19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.

20 As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

They [will disappear as quickly] as a dream disappears when a person awakes in the morning; Lord, when you arise, you will (cause them to disappear/forget all about them).

21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,

22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.

23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.

24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

You guide me by teaching me, and (at the end [of my life]/when I die), you will receive me and honor me.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.

26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

My body and my mind may become very weak, but God, you continue to enable me to be strong; I belong to you forever.

27 For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.

28 But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.

But [as for] me, it is wonderful to be near to God and to be protected by Yahweh, and to proclaim to others all that he has done [for me].