Psalms 73
73
God’s Justice
Asaph’s psalm # 73 Asaph was one of three Levites that David set over the worship of Yahweh. However, it is possible that Asaph was an office not an individual—Asaphites who were part of a prophetic company of composers. The name Asaph means “a harvest” or “fulfilled prophecy.” Asaph possibly comes from a Semitic root word for “portal.” Perhaps the Asaphites were named such because their music opened a portal into the heavenly realm.
1No one can deny it—God is really good to Israel
and to all those with pure hearts.
But I nearly missed seeing it for myself.
2Here’s my story: I narrowly missed losing it all.
3I was stumbling over what I saw the wicked doing.
For when I saw the boasters with such wealth and prosperity,
I became jealous over their smug security.
4-5Indulging in whatever they wanted, going where they wanted,
doing what they wanted, and with no care in the world,
no pain, no problems—they seemed to have it made.
They lived as though life would never end.
6They didn’t even try to hide their pride and opulence.
Cruelty and violence are parts of their lifestyle.
7Pampered and pompous, vice oozes from their souls;
they overflow with vanity.
8They’re such snobs—looking down their noses.
They even scoff at God!
They are nothing but bullies threatening God’s people.
9They are loudmouths with no fear of God, pretending to know it all—
windbags full of hot air, impressing only themselves.
10Yet the people keep coming back to listen
to more of their nonsense.
11They tell their cohorts, “God will never know.
See, he has no clue of what we’re doing.”
12These are the wicked ones I’m talking about!
They never have to lift a finger,
living a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13Have I been foolish to play by the rules and keep my life pure?
14Here I am suffering under your discipline day after day.
I feel like I’m being punished all day long.
15If I had given in to my pain and spoken of what I was really feeling,
it would have sounded like unfaithfulness to the next generation.
16When I tried to understand it all, I just couldn’t.
It was too puzzling—too much of a riddle to me.
17But then one day I was brought into the sanctuaries of God,
and in the light of glory, my distorted perspective vanished.
Then I understood that the destiny of the wicked was near!
18They’re the ones who are on the slippery path,
and God will suddenly let them slide off into destruction
to be consumed with terrors forever!
19It will be an instant end to all their life of ease;
a blink of the eye and they’re swept away by sudden calamity!
They’re all nothing more than momentary monarchs—
20soon to disappear like a dream when one awakes.
When the rooster crows,
Lord God, you’ll despise their life of fantasies. # 73:20 Or “shadows.”
21When I saw all of this, what turmoil filled my heart,
piercing my opinions with your truth.
22I was so stupid. I was senseless and ignorant,
acting like a brute beast before you, Lord.
23Yet, in spite of all this, I still belong to you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24You lead me with your secret wisdom.
And following you brings me into your brightness and glory!
25Whom have I in heaven but you? You’re all I want!
No one on earth means as much to me as you.
26Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace.
But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence
protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need!
27Those who abandon the worship of God will perish.
The false and unfaithful will be silenced, never heard from again.
28But I’ll keep coming closer and closer to you, Lord Yahweh,
for your name is good to me. I’ll keep telling the world of
your awesome works, my faithful and glorious God!
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Psalms 73: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 73
73
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Only — good to Israel [is] God, to the clean of heart. And I — as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,
2As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,
3The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,
4And their might [is] firm.
5In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.
6Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.
7Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;
8They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.
9They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.
10Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.
11And they have said, ‘How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?’
12Lo, these [are] the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.
13Only — a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,
14And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof [is] every morning.
15If I have said, ‘I recount thus,’ Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.
16And I think to know this, Perverseness it [is] in mine eyes,
17Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.
18Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.
19How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended — consumed from terrors.
20As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.
21For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,
22And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.
23And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.
24With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.
25Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.
26Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.
27For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.
28And I — nearness of God to me [is] good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!
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