Psalms 73

1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

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

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],

3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

because I envied those who proudly [said that they did not need God], and I saw that they prospered [even though] they were wicked.

4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

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

5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

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

6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

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.

7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.

8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

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

9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

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.

10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

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.

11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

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].”

12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

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

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,

[So, God], I think it is useless that I have [RHQ] always done what you want me to, and that I have not sinned.

14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.

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

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

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

16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—

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

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

But when I went to your temple, [you spoke to me], and I understood what will happen to the wicked people [after they die].

18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

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

19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

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

20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

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).

21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,

22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

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

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

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

24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

You guide me by teaching me, and (at the end [of my life]/when I die), you will receive me and honor me.

25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.

26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

My body and my mind may become very weak, but God, you continue to enable me to be strong; I belong to you forever.

27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

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

28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

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].