Psalms 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean 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 foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; 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 compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
10 Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.
11 And they say, How does 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
If I'd talked like this to others, I would have betrayed your people.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
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 sanctuary 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 Surely you did set them in slippery places: you casted them down into destruction.
For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.
20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when you awake, you shall despise their image.
Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
24 You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you.
Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.
26 My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength 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, lo, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from you.
Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your 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.
