It is good to be near God
This is a Psalm of Asaph.
1God is good to Israel, this is sure.
He is good to people who are pure
and belong to Him.
2And I? I almost stumbled and fell,
and my feet almost slipped. Yes,
I almost lost my faith
3because I saw how happy the rich,
proud people and sinners are,
and I became jealous of them.
4Because they don't suffer
and they are not afraid to die.
They are fat and healthy.
5They don't have trouble
like other people,
and nothing bad happens to them.
6That is why they are always so proud
and ready to be cruel and oppress people.
7They are so fat that
their eyes almost fall out.
They always think
of something bad to do.
8They mock and say bad things
about other people,
and they boast about how
they can oppress other people.
9They speak against God
and everyone in heaven,
and they say anything they want
to about people on earth.
10That is why people like
to listen to what these people say.
11These people who do wrong
think that God doesn't know
what they do,
and they think the Most High God
knows nothing.
12But all goes well for these sinful people.
They are not worried
and they become rich.
13So I thought that it did not
help me that I have stayed pure
and have done nothing wrong.
14I suffered all day long
and God punished me every day.
15I wanted to tell
other people these things,
but if I had done that,
I would have betrayed the people of God.
16I tried to understand this,
but it was too difficult for me.
17But when I went
into the temple of God,
I started to understand
what will happen
to those people who do wrong.
18Surely You let them walk
on slippery places
where it is dangerous.
When You make them fall,
there is nothing left of them.
19You will destroy them suddenly.
Very bad things will happen
to them and they will be gone.
20It will be like a dream.
When you wake up,
there is nothing.
O Lord, please let them
disappear when You decide it.
21When I was sad and angry,
22I was stupid and did not understand,
and I was like a foolish animal before You.
23But I am always with You.
You are holding my hand.
24You teach me what to do
and You lead me,
and later You will take me to You
and I will see your glory.
25I belong to You and
there is nothing else that I want
in heaven and on earth.
26When my body
and my spirit become weak,
it is You, O God, who are
my Rock and my strength.
You are everything that I want.
You are mine forever.
27I know that everyone
who is far away from You will die.
You make everyone disappear
who is unfaithful to You.
28But it is good for me to be near You,
my Lord. I know
that You will protect me.
I will tell everyone what You have done.
