< Psalms 73 >
1 God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.
A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
2 As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 because I envied those who proudly [said that they did not need God], and I saw that they prospered [even though] they were wicked.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 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.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 They scoff at [other people], and they talk about doing evil things to them; they are proud while they plan to oppress others.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 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.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 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.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 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].”
And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.
Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 [So, God], I think it is useless that I have [RHQ] always done what you want me to, and that I have not sinned.
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 But when I went to your temple, [you spoke to me], and I understood what will happen to the wicked people [after they die].
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 [Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
20 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).
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 You guide me by teaching me, and (at the end [of my life]/when I die), you will receive me and honor me.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 My body and my mind may become very weak, but God, you continue to enable me to be strong; I belong to you forever.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
27 Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 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].
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.