Psalms 73
1 A psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose minds are pure.
A Melody of Asaph. Nothing but good, is God, Unto Israel, Unto the pure in heart.
2 But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,
But, as for me, —My feet had, almost stumbled, My steps had, well-nigh slipped;
3 because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.
For I was envious of the boasters, At the prosperity of the lawless, used I to look.
4 They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
For they have no pangs in their death, And vigorous is their body;
5 They don't have problems like other people; they don't get hit by disasters like everybody else.
Of the toil of weak mortals, have they none, Nor, with the sons of earth, are they hard smitten.
6 They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
For this cause, doth arrogance deck them as a neck-chain, And a garment of wrong is their attire;
7 Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.
Their iniquity, hath proceeded from fatness, They have surpassed the imaginations of the heart;
8 They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
They mock, and wickedly command oppression, From on high, they command;
9 They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
They have set, in the heavens, their mouth, And, their tongue, marcheth through the earth.
10 As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.
Therefore must his people return thither, And, the waters of abundance, are drained by them;
11 “God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”
And they say—How doth GOD know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
Lo! these, are the lawless, Who are secure for an age, They have attained unto wealth.
13 It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.
Altogether in vain, Have I cleansed my heart, And bathed in pureness, my hands;
14 I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
And yet been smitten all the day, And been rebuked morning by morning!
15 If I'd talked like this to others, I would have betrayed your people.
If I had thought, I will relate it thus, Lo! the circle of thy sons, had I betrayed.
16 So I thought about it and tried to understand, but it looked like a lot of hard work to me—
When I reasoned, that I might understand this, A vexation, it was in mine eyes:
17 until I went into God's Temple. Then I understood what happens to the wicked in the end.
Until I could enter the holy places of God, —Could give heed to their hereafter: —
18 For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.
Surely, in slippery places, dost thou set them, —Thou hast suffered them to fall into places of danger.
19 How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.
How have they become desolate, as in a moment! They have ceased—come to an end, by reason of calamities.
20 Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!
As the dream of him that waketh, O my Lord! when rousing thyself up, their shadowy being, wilt thou despise.
21 At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
But my heart had grown embittered, And, in my reins, had I received wounds;
22 I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.
But, I, was brutish, and could not perceive, Like the beasts, had I become before thee.
23 Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.
Nevertheless, I, am continually before thee, Thou hast taken hold of my right hand;
24 You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
By thy counsel, wilt thou guide me, And, afterwards, unto glory, wilt thou take me.
25 Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.
Whom have I in the heavens? And, compared with thee, there is nothing I desire on earth.
26 My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!
Failed have my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart—and my portion, is God unto times age-abiding.
27 Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.
For lo! they who are far from thee, shall perish, Thou hast put an end to every one who wandered unchastely from thee.
28 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.
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.
