Psalm 73

International Children’s Bible

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 So they wear pride like a necklace.
    They put on violence as their clothing.
⁷ They are looking for profits.
    They 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.
    Their mouths gossip on 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 about 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 come, 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 mind and my body 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.