Psalms 73
1 A Psalm of Asaph. 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 compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth 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 walketh through the earth.
They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: 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 doth 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 innocency.
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 thy 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 thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst 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] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt 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 thee.
I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
23 Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.
Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy 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 thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] 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: [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 thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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 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.
