Understanding

Psalm 73

New Century Version (NCV)

¹ God is truly good to Israel,
       to those who have pure hearts.
 ² But I had almost stopped believing;
       I had almost lost my faith
 ³ because I was jealous of proud people.
       I saw wicked people doing well.

 ⁴ They are not suffering;
       they are healthy and strong.
 ⁵ They don't have troubles like the rest of us;
       they don't have problems like other people.
 ⁶ They wear pride like a necklace
       and put on violence as their clothing.
 ⁷ They are looking for profits
       and do not control their selfish desires.
 ⁸ They make fun of others and speak evil;
       proudly they speak of hurting others.
 ⁹ They brag to the sky.
       They say that they own the earth.
 ¹⁰ So their people turn to them
       and give them whatever they want.
 ¹¹ They say, "How can God know?
       What does God Most High know?"
 ¹² These people are wicked,
       always at ease, and getting richer.
 ¹³ So why have I kept my heart pure?
       Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?
 ¹⁴ I have suffered all day long;
       I have been punished every morning.

 ¹⁵ God, if I had decided to talk like this,
       I would have let your people down.
 ¹⁶ I tried to understand all this,
       but it was too hard for me to see
 ¹⁷ until I went to the Temple of God.
       Then I understood what will happen to them.
 ¹⁸ You have put them in danger;
       you cause them to be destroyed.
 ¹⁹ They are destroyed in a moment;
       they are swept away by terrors.
 ²⁰ It will be like waking from a dream.
       Lord, when you rise up, they will disappear.

 ²¹ When my heart was sad
       and I was angry,
 ²² I was senseless and stupid.
       I acted like an animal toward you.
 ²³ But I am always with you;
       you have held my hand.
 ²⁴ You guide me with your advice,
       and later you will receive me in honor.
 ²⁵ I have no one in heaven but you;
       I want nothing on earth besides you.
 ²⁶ My body and my mind may become weak,
       but God is my strength.
       He is mine forever.

 ²⁷ Those who are far from God will die;
       you destroy those who are unfaithful.
 ²⁸ But I am close to God, and that is good.
       The Lord God is my protection.
       I will tell all that you have done.