Psalm 73:1-28 VOICE

[1] Truly God is good to His people, Israel, to those with pure hearts. [2] Though I know this is true, I almost lost my footing; yes, my steps were on slippery ground. [3] You see, there was a time when I envied arrogant men and thought, "The wicked look pretty happy to me." [4] For they seem to live carefree lives, free of suffering; their bodies are strong and healthy. [5] They don't know trouble as we do; they are not plagued with problems as the rest of us are. [6] They've got pearls of pride strung around their necks; they clothe their bodies with violence. [7] They have so much more than enough. Their eyes bulge because they are so fat with possessions. They have more than their hearts could have ever imagined. [8] There is nothing sacred, and no one is safe. Vicious sarcasm drips from their lips; they bully and threaten to crush their enemies. [9] They even mock God as if He were not above; their arrogant tongues boast throughout the earth; they feel invincible. [10] Even God's people turn and are carried away by them; they watch and listen, yet find no fault in them. [11] You will hear them say, "How can the True God possibly know anyway? He's not even here. So how can the Most High have any knowledge of what happens here?" [12] Let me tell you what I know about the wicked: they are comfortably at rest while their wealth is growing and growing. [13] Oh, let this not be me! It seems I have scrubbed my heart to keep it clean and washed my hands in innocence. And for what? Nothing. [14] For all day long, I am being punished, each day awakening to stern chastisement. [15] If I had said to others these kinds of things about the plight of God's good people, then I know I would have betrayed the next generation. [16] Trying to solve this mystery on my own exhausted me; I couldn't bear to look at it any further. [17] So I took my questions to the True God, and in His sanctuary I realized something so chilling and final: their lives have a deadly end. [18] Because You have certainly set the wicked upon a slippery slope, You've set them up to slide to their destruction. [19] And they won't see it coming. It will happen so fast: first, a flash of terror, and then desolation. [20] It is like a dream from which someone awakes. You will wake up, Lord, and loathe what has become of them. [21] You see, my heart overflowed with bitterness and cynicism; I felt as if someone stabbed me in the back. [22] But I didn't know the truth; I have been acting like a stupid animal toward You. [23] But look at this: You are still holding my right hand; You have been all along. [24] Even though I was angry and hard-hearted, You gave me good advice; when it's all over, You will receive me into Your glory. [25] For all my wanting, I don't have anyone but You in heaven. There is nothing on earth that I desire other than You. [26] I admit how broken I am in body and spirit, but God is my strength, and He will be mine forever. [27] It will happen: whoever shuns You will be silenced forever; You will bring an end to all who refuse to be true to You. [28] But the closer I am to You, my God, the better because life with You is good. O Lord, the Eternal, You keep me safe- I will tell everyone what You have done.