Psalms 73

1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure 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 were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;

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

3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

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 pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

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

5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:

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

6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;

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 stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

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

8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

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

9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh 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 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to 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 can God know, and 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 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

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

13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

[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 all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

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

15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.

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

16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

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

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

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 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

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

19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

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

20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

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 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,

22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.

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

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;

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

24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

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 the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

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 faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

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 behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

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