Psa Psalms, psalm Book of Psalms, psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose minds73:1. Literally, “hearts.” In Hebrew understanding the heart was where thinking was done. are pure.Psa 64:8; Mat 5:8; Jhn 1:47
But I was stumbling, my feet were starting to slide,73:2. The psalmist is indicating he was losing faith.
because I was jealous of self-important people—I saw how well the wicked were doing.Psa 37:1; Job 21:7; Jer 12:1
They don't ever seem to get sick; they are strong and healthy.
They don't have problems like other people; they don't get hit by disasters like everybody else.
They wear their pride like a necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
Their eyes bulge out because they're so fat; their minds are full of selfish vanity.73:7. Or “from their evil hearts pours out iniquity.”Job 15:27
They mock people, and speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten cruelty.
They talk irreverently against heaven above, and defame people here on earth.
As a result people turn to them and drink in everything they say.73:10. The Hebrew text is hard to understand: “Therefore he brings back his people here and abundant waters are drained by them.”
“God won't find out,” they say. “The Most High doesn't even know what's going on!”Psa 10:11; Psa 94:7
Look at these wicked people! They don't have a care in the world, and they're always making money!
It's been pointless to keep my mind pure and my hands clean.Mal 3:14; Job 9:30
I'm cursed with suffering all day long; every morning I'm punished.
If I'd talked like this to others,73:15. Referring back to what the wicked said in verse 11. I would have betrayed your people.
So I thought about it and tried to understand,73:16. The psalmist is trying to understand why the wicked prosper. but it looked like a lot of hard work to me—
until I went into God's Temple. Then I understood what happens to the wicked in the end.
For you send them on a slippery path; you throw them down to destruction.Job 21:16; Pro 14:32
How quickly they're destroyed! They come to a terrifying end.Job 21:30; Psa 52:5
Like waking up from a dream, Lord—when you get up you will forget all about them!Job 21:17; Isa 29:7
At that time my thoughts were bitter. I felt like I had been stabbed.
I was stupid and ignorant. I was like a brute beast to you.Jhn 12:16
Yet I'm always with you; you hold me by the hand.Jhn 6:68
You tell me what to do; and ultimately you will welcome me in glory.
Who is there in heaven for me except you? And I want nothing on earth except you.Psa 16:5; Jhn 4:14
My body and my mind may fail, but God is the foundation of my life. He is mine forever!Lam 3:24
Those people who are far from God will die. You destroy all those unfaithful to you.Jer 17:13; Hos 7:13
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.Jas 4:8