Psalmorum 73
1 Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israel Deus his, qui recto sunt corde!
A psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose minds are pure.
2 Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes: pene effusi sunt gressus mei.
But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,
3 Quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.
4 Quia non est respectus morti eorum: et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
5 In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur:
They don't have problems like other people; they don't get hit by disasters like everybody else.
6 Ideo tenuit eos superbia, operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum: transierunt in affectum cordis.
Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.
8 Cogitaverunt, et locuti sunt nequitiam: iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
9 Posuerunt in cælum os suum: et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
10 Ideo convertetur populus meus hic: et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.
11 Et dixerunt: Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?
“God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”
12 Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo, obtinuerunt divitias.
Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
13 Et dixi: Ergo sine causa iustificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas:
It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.
14 Et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
15 Si dicebam: Narrabo sic: ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
If I'd talked like this to others, I would have betrayed your people.
16 Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc, labor est ante me:
So I thought about it and tried to understand, but it looked like a lot of hard work to me—
17 Donec intrem in Sanctuarium Dei: et intelligam in novissimis eorum.
until I went into God's Temple. Then I understood what happens to the wicked in the end.
18 Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis: deiecisti eos dum allevarentur.
For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.
19 Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem, subito defecerunt: perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.
20 Velut somnium surgentium Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!
21 Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt:
At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
22 et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi.
I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
23 Ut iumentum factus sum apud te: et ego semper tecum.
Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
24 Tenuisti manum dexteram meam: et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.
You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
25 Quid enim mihi est in cælo? et a te quid volui super terram?
Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.
26 Defecit caro mea et cor meum: Deus cordis mei, et pars mea Deus in æternum.
My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!
27 Quia ecce, qui elongant se a te, peribunt: perdidisti omnes, qui fornicantur abs te.
Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.
28 Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est: ponere in Domino Deo spem meam: ut annunciem omnes prædicationes tuas, in portis filiæ Sion.
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.
