Psalms 73
1 A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure 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 stumbled, 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 of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
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 vigorous is their body;
Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.
5 Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.
6 For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
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 iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the 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 wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
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 have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth 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 must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by 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 doth 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 Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.
13 Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
[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 And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.
15 If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.
16 When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].
17 Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
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 Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
[Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.
19 How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.
20 As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
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 But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,
22 But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.
24 By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take 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, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire 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 Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
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 lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely 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, the drawing near of God, is my blessedness, —I have made, of My Lord Yahweh, my refuge, —That I may recount 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].
