Psalm
73
NIV
Translation
Proverbs
3
1
Surely
God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong. [a]
5
They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7
From their callous hearts comes iniquity [b] ;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
8
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
9
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance. [c]
11
They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
12
This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
13
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14
All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
15
If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
16
When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
17
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20
As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. |
Psalm
73
New
Living Translation
Proverbs
3
1
Truly God is good to Israel,
to those whose hearts are pure.
2
But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3
For I envied the proud
when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4
They seem to live such painless lives;
their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5
They don’t have troubles like other people;
they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7
These fat cats have everything
their hearts could ever wish for!
8
They scoff and speak only evil;
in their pride they seek to crush others.
9
They boast against the very heavens,
and their words strut throughout the earth.
10
And so the people are dismayed and confused,
drinking in all their words.
11
“What does God know?” they ask.
“Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12
Look at these wicked people—
enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13
Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14
I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.
15
If I had really spoken this way to others,
I would have been a traitor to your people.
16
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
But what a difficult task it is!
17
Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18
Truly, you put them on a slippery path
and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19
In an instant they are destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors.
20
When you arise, O Lord,
you will laugh at their silly ideas
as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21
Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
22
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23
Yet I still belong to you;
you hold my right hand.
24
You guide me with your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
25
Whom have I in heaven but you?
I desire you more than anything on earth.
26
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
he is mine forever.
27
Those who desert him will perish,
for you destroy those who abandon you.
28
But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. |
