Psalm 73

Good News Translation

⁴ They do not suffer pain;
    they are strong and healthy.
⁵ They do not suffer as other people do;
    they do not have the troubles that others have.
⁶ And so they wear pride like a necklace
    and violence like a robe;
⁷ their hearts pour out evil,^[b]
    and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.
⁸ They laugh at other people and speak of evil things;
    they are proud and make plans to oppress others.
⁹ They speak evil of God in heaven
    and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,
¹⁰ so that even God's people turn to them
    and eagerly believe whatever they say.^[c]
11 They say, “God will not know;
    the Most High will not find out.”
¹² That is what the wicked are like.
    They have plenty and are always getting more.

¹³ Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure
    and have not committed sin?
¹⁴ O God, you have made me suffer all day long;
    every morning you have punished me.

¹⁵ If I had said such things,
    I would not be acting as one of your people.
¹⁶ I tried to think this problem through,
    but it was too difficult for me
¹⁷     until I went into your Temple.
Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.

¹⁸ You will put them in slippery places
    and make them fall to destruction!
¹⁹ They are instantly destroyed;
    they go down to a horrible end.
²⁰ They are like a dream that goes away in the morning;
    when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.

²¹ When my thoughts were bitter
    and my feelings were hurt,
²² I was as stupid as an animal;
    I did not understand you.
²³ Yet I always stay close to you,
    and you hold me by the hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your instruction
    and at the end you will receive me with honor.
²⁵ What else do I have in heaven but you?
    Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?
²⁶ My mind and my body may grow weak,
    but God is my strength;
    he is all I ever need.

²⁷ Those who abandon you will certainly perish;
    you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But as for me, how wonderful to be near God,
    to find protection with the Sovereign Lord
    and to proclaim all that he has done!