Psalm 73:1-28
1 God is truly good to Israel. God is good to people whose
hearts are pure. 2 I almost slipped and began to sin. 3 I saw
that wicked people were successful I became jealous of those
proud people. 4 Those people are healthy. They don't have to
struggle to survive. 5 Those proud people don't suffer like us.
They don't have troubles like other people. 6 So they are very
proud and hateful people. This is as easy to see as the jewels
and fancy clothes they wear. 7 If those people like something
they see, they go and take it. They do whatever they want to do.
8 They say cruel, evil things about other people. They are
proud and stubborn. And they are always planning ways to take
advantage of other people. 9 Those proud people think they are
gods! They think they are the rulers of earth. 10 So even God's
people turn to them and do the things they tell them. 11 Those
evil people say, "God doesn't know what we are doing! God
Most-High does not know!" 12 Those proud people are wicked, but
they are rich and getting richer. 13 So why should I make my
heart pure? Why should I make my hands clean? 14 God, I suffer
all day long. And you punish me every morning.
15 God, I wanted to talk to other people about these things.
But I knew I would be betraying your people. 16 I tried hard to
understand these things. But it was all too hard for me 17
until I went to your temple. I went to God's temple, and then I
understood. 18 God, you really have put those people in a
dangerous situation. It is so easy for them to fall and be
destroyed. 19 Trouble can come suddenly, and then those proud
people are ruined. Terrible things can happen to them, and then
they are finished. 20 Lord, those people will be like a dream
that we forget when we wake up. You will make those people
disappear like the monsters in our dreams.
21 22 I was very stupid. I thought about rich and wicked
people, and I became upset. God, I was upset and angry at you! I
acted like a stupid, ignorant animal. 23 {I have everything I
need!} I am with you always. God, you hold my hand. 24 God, you
lead me and give me good advice. And later you will lead me to
glory. 25 God, I have you in heaven. And when I am with you,
what on earth can I want? 26 Maybe my mind and body will be
destroyed, but I have the Rock I love. I have God forever! 27
God, people who leave you will be lost. You will destroy the
people who are not faithful to you. 28 As for me, I have come
to God. And that is good for me. I have made the Lord my Master
my place of safety. God, I have come to tell about all the
things you have done.
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