Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
A psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose minds are pure.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,
3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.
4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
They don't have problems like other people; they don't get hit by disasters like everybody else.
6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.
8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.
11 And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
“God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”
12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.
14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
If I'd talked like this to others, I would have betrayed your people.
16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
So I thought about it and tried to understand, but it looked like a lot of hard work to me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
until I went into God's Temple. Then I understood what happens to the wicked in the end.
18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.
19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.
20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!
21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!
27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
But I love to stay close to God! I have chosen the Lord God to protect me. I will share all that you have done.
