From early on in mankind’s history, those who chose to serve and obey Jehovah sought to avoid close association with those who did not. Indeed, Jehovah indicated that there would be enmity between his worshippers and those who followed Satan. (Gen. 3:15) Because of their firm stand for divinely inspired principles, God’s people have acted differently from those who surround them. (John 17:15, 16; 1 John 2:15-17) Taking such a stand has not always been easy. Indeed, some among Jehovah’s servants have on occasion questioned the wisdom of a self-sacrificing course of life. One of Jehovah’s servants who found himself wondering whether he had made wise decisions was the writer of Psalm 73, likely one of Asaph’s descendants. The psalmist asked why it is that the wicked often seem to be successful, happy, and prosperous, while some who strive to serve God suffer trials and hardships.—Ps. 73:1-13. w10 6/15 1:8, 9
Supplementary Information:
BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73 – 89)
(Psalms 73 – 89)
A melody of A′saph.
73 God is indeed good to Israel, to those clean in heart.
2 As for me, my feet had almost turned aside,
My steps had nearly been made to slip.
3 For I became envious of the boasters,
[When] I would see the very peace of wicked people.
4 For they have no deathly pangs;
And their paunch is fat.
5 They are not even in the trouble of mortal man,
And they are not plagued the same as other men.
6 Therefore haughtiness has served as a necklace to them;
Violence envelops them as a garment.
7 Their eye has bulged from fatness;
They have exceeded the imaginations of the heart.
8 They scoff and speak about what is bad;
About defrauding they speak in an elevated style.
9 They have put their mouth in the very heavens,
And their tongue itself walks about in the earth.
10 Therefore he brings his people back hither,
And the waters of what is full are drained out for them.
11 And they have said: “How has God come to know?
And does there exist knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Look! These are the wicked, who are at ease indefinitely.
They have increased [their] means of maintenance.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have cleansed my heart
And that I wash my hands in innocence itself.
14 And I came to be plagued all day long,
And my correction is every morning.
15 If I had said: “I will tell a story like that,”
Look! against the generation of your sons
I should have acted treacherously.
16 And I kept considering so as to know this;
It was a trouble in my eyes,
17 Until I proceeded to come into the grand sanctuary of God.
I wanted to discern their future.
18 Surely on slippery ground is where you place them.
You have made them fall to ruins.
19 O how they have become an object of astonishment as in a moment!
[How] they have reached their end, have been brought to their finish through sudden terrors!
20 Like a dream after awaking, O Jehovah,
[So] when arousing [yourself] you will despise their very image.
21 For my heart was soured
And in my kidneys I was sharply pained,
22 And I was unreasoning and I could not know;
I became as mere beasts from your standpoint.
23 But I am constantly with you;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With your counsel you will lead me,
And afterward you will take me even to glory.
25 Whom do I have in the heavens?
And besides you I do have no other delight on the earth.
26 My organism and my heart have failed.
God is the rock of my heart and my share to time indefinite.
27 For, look! the very ones keeping away from you will perish.
You will certainly silence every one immorally leaving you.
28 But as for me, the drawing near to God is good for me.
In the Sovereign Lord Jehovah I have placed my refuge,
To declare all your works.
73 God is indeed good to Israel, to those clean in heart.
2 As for me, my feet had almost turned aside,
My steps had nearly been made to slip.
3 For I became envious of the boasters,
[When] I would see the very peace of wicked people.
4 For they have no deathly pangs;
And their paunch is fat.
5 They are not even in the trouble of mortal man,
And they are not plagued the same as other men.
6 Therefore haughtiness has served as a necklace to them;
Violence envelops them as a garment.
7 Their eye has bulged from fatness;
They have exceeded the imaginations of the heart.
8 They scoff and speak about what is bad;
About defrauding they speak in an elevated style.
9 They have put their mouth in the very heavens,
And their tongue itself walks about in the earth.
10 Therefore he brings his people back hither,
And the waters of what is full are drained out for them.
11 And they have said: “How has God come to know?
And does there exist knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Look! These are the wicked, who are at ease indefinitely.
They have increased [their] means of maintenance.
13 Surely it is in vain that I have cleansed my heart
And that I wash my hands in innocence itself.
14 And I came to be plagued all day long,
And my correction is every morning.
15 If I had said: “I will tell a story like that,”
Look! against the generation of your sons
I should have acted treacherously.
16 And I kept considering so as to know this;
It was a trouble in my eyes,
17 Until I proceeded to come into the grand sanctuary of God.
I wanted to discern their future.
18 Surely on slippery ground is where you place them.
You have made them fall to ruins.
19 O how they have become an object of astonishment as in a moment!
[How] they have reached their end, have been brought to their finish through sudden terrors!
20 Like a dream after awaking, O Jehovah,
[So] when arousing [yourself] you will despise their very image.
21 For my heart was soured
And in my kidneys I was sharply pained,
22 And I was unreasoning and I could not know;
I became as mere beasts from your standpoint.
23 But I am constantly with you;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 With your counsel you will lead me,
And afterward you will take me even to glory.
25 Whom do I have in the heavens?
And besides you I do have no other delight on the earth.
26 My organism and my heart have failed.
God is the rock of my heart and my share to time indefinite.
27 For, look! the very ones keeping away from you will perish.
You will certainly silence every one immorally leaving you.
28 But as for me, the drawing near to God is good for me.
In the Sovereign Lord Jehovah I have placed my refuge,
To declare all your works.
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