Psalms 73
73
Should the Wicked Be Rich?
A song of Asaph.
1God is truly good to Israel,
to those who have pure hearts.
2But I had almost stopped believing this truth.
I had almost lost my faith
3because I was jealous of proud people.
I saw wicked people doing well.
4They are not suffering.
They are healthy and strong.
5They don’t have troubles like the rest of us.
They don’t have problems like other people.
6So they wear pride like a necklace.
They put on violence as their clothing.
7They are looking for profits.
They do not control their selfish desires.
8They make fun of others and speak evil.
Proudly they speak of hurting others.
9They brag to the sky.
Their mouths gossip on the earth.
10So their people turn to them
and give them whatever they want.
11They say, “How can God know?
What does God Most High know?”
12These people are wicked,
always at ease and getting richer.
13So why have I kept my heart pure?
Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?
14I have suffered all day long.
I have been punished every morning.
15God, if I had decided to talk about this,
I would have let your people down.
16I tried to understand all this.
But it was too hard for me to see
17until I went to the Temple of God.
Then I understood what will happen to them.
18You have put them in danger.
You cause them to be destroyed.
19They are destroyed in a moment.
They are swept away by terrors.
20It will be like waking from a dream.
Lord, when you come, they will disappear.
21When my heart was sad and
I was angry,
22I was senseless and stupid.
I acted like an animal toward you.
23But I am always with you.
You have held my hand.
24You guide me with your advice.
And later you will receive me in honor.
25I have no one in heaven but you.
I want nothing on earth besides you.
26My mind and my body may become weak.
But God is my strength.
He is mine forever.
27Those who are far from God will die.
You destroy those who are unfaithful.
28But I am close to God, and that is good.
The Lord God is my protection.
I will tell all that you have done.
Currently Selected:
Psalms 73: ICB
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Psalms 73
73
BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
A psalm by Asaph.
1God is truly good to Israel,
to those whose lives are pure.
2But my feet had almost stumbled.
They had almost slipped
3because I was envious of arrogant people
when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
4They suffer no pain.
Their bodies are healthy.
5They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people.
They are not plagued ⌞with problems⌟ like others.
6That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace
and acts of violence like clothing.
7Their eyes peer out from their fat faces,
and their imaginations run wild.
8They ridicule.
They speak maliciously.
They speak arrogantly about oppression.
9They verbally attack heaven,
and they order people around on earth.
10That is why God’s people turn to wickedness
and swallow their words.
11Then wicked people ask, “What does God know?”
“Does the Most High know anything?”
12Look how wicked they are!
They never have a worry.
They grow more and more wealthy.
13I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure
and washing my hands of any blame.
14I’m plagued ⌞with problems⌟ all day long,
and every morning my punishment ⌞begins again⌟.
15If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”
I would have betrayed God’s people.
16But when I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me.
17Only when I came into God’s holy place
did I ⌞finally⌟ understand what would happen to them.
18You put them in slippery places
and make them fall into ruin.
19They are suddenly destroyed.
They are completely swept away by terror!
20As ⌞someone⌟ gets rid of a dream when he wakes up,
so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them
when you wake up.
21When my heart was filled with bitterness
and my mind was seized ⌞with envy⌟,
22I was stupid, and I did not understand.
I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
23Yet, I am always with you.
You hold on to my right hand.
24With your advice you guide me,
and in the end you will take me to glory.
25As long as I have you,
I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
26My body and mind may waste away,
but God remains the foundation of my life
and my inheritance forever.
27Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.
You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28Being united with God is my highest good.
I have made the Almighty Lord my refuge
so that I may report everything that he has done.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.