Psalm 73:12-28

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹³ I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure
and washing my hands of any blame.
¹⁴ I’m plagued ⌞with problems⌟ all day long,
and every morning my punishment ⌞begins again⌟.
¹⁵ If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”
I would have betrayed God’s people.

¹⁶ But when I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me.
¹⁷ Only when I came into God’s holy place
did I ⌞finally⌟ understand what would happen to them.

¹⁸ You put them in slippery places
and make them fall into ruin.
¹⁹ They are suddenly destroyed.
They are completely swept away by terror!
²⁰ As ⌞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.

²¹ When my heart was filled with bitterness
and my mind was seized ⌞with envy⌟,
²² I was stupid, and I did not understand.
I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
²³ Yet, I am always with you.
You hold on to my right hand.
²⁴ With your advice you guide me,
and in the end you will take me to glory.
²⁵ As long as I have you,
I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
²⁶ My body and mind may waste away,
but God remains the foundation of my life
and my inheritance forever.
²⁷ Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.
You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸ Being 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.