Psalms 73

1 God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.

A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the 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 my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly 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.

through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.

4 Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.

For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.

5 They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.

They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.

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.

So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,

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 out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.

8 They scoff at [other people], and they talk about doing evil things to them; they are proud while they plan to oppress others.

Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.

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 in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on 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.

Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.

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].”

‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’

12 That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.

See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.

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.

Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;

14 All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.

for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.

15 If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.

But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.

16 And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].

So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:

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].

till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.

18 [Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.

Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.

19 They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.

One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in 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).

Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.

21 When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,

So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart

22 I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.

show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.

23 But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.

But I am always with you, you have hold of 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.

By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to 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 the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.

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.

Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.

27 Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.

For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.

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 I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.