Psalms 73
1 God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; 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.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like 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 is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their 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 scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none 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 the heavens, and their tongue walketh 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 His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by 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 say: '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, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase 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.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
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 entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 [Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
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 a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
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 wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none 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.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from 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 as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
