BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73–89)
The Justice of God
1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to those who have pure hearts.
2 But I had nearly lost confidence;
my faith was almost gone
3 because I was jealous of the proud
when I saw that things go well for the wicked.
4 They do not suffer pain;
they are strong and healthy.
5 They do not suffer as other people do;
they do not have the troubles that others have.
6 And so they wear pride like a necklace
and violence like a robe;
7 their hearts pour out evil,
and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.
8 They laugh at other people and speak of evil things;
they are proud and make plans to oppress others.
9 They speak evil of God in heaven
and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,
10 so that even God's people turn to them
and eagerly believe whatever they say.
11 They say, “God will not know;
the Most High will not find out.”
12 That is what the wicked are like.
They have plenty and are always getting more.
13 Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure
and have not committed sin?
14 O God, you have made me suffer all day long;
every morning you have punished me.
15 If I had said such things,
I would not be acting as one of your people.
16 I tried to think this problem through,
but it was too difficult for me
17 until I went into your Temple.
Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.
18 You will put them in slippery places
and make them fall to destruction!
19 They are instantly destroyed;
they go down to a horrible end.
20 They are like a dream that goes away in the morning;
when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.
21 When my thoughts were bitter
and my feelings were hurt,
22 I was as stupid as an animal;
I did not understand you.
23 Yet I always stay close to you,
and you hold me by the hand.
24 You guide me with your instruction
and at the end you will receive me with honor.
25 What else do I have in heaven but you?
Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?
26 My mind and my body may grow weak,
but God is my strength;
he is all I ever need.
27 Those who abandon you will certainly perish;
you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, how wonderful to be near God,
to find protection with the Sovereign Lord
and to proclaim all that he has done!
TREŠĀ GRĀMATA
Bezdievim un taisnajam ir katram sava alga
1 Āsāfa psalms .
Tiešām vēlīgs Dievs Israēlam,
tiem, kam sirds šķīsta.
2 Bet man teju vai sametās kājas,
gandrīz vai misējās solis –
3 es sāku apskaust katru iznireli,
kad palūkojos, cik ļaundariem labi!
4 Nav tiem nekādu likstu,
dūšīgi tie un brangi miesās,
5 tie nemokās kā visi,
nedz tos piemeklē kā citus,
6 tādēļ lepnība tiem kaklarota
un varmācība kā apmetnis tos sedz,
7 tiem acis no taukuma spiežas,
kārībā kūsā tiem sirds,
8 tie ņirgājas un runā ļaunu,
nicīgi tie ar spēku draud,
9 tie debesīs ar savu muti,
ar mēli pa zemi lodā,
10 un viņa tauta iet tiem līdzi
un ūdens veldzi pie tādiem rod!
11 Tie runā: kā uzzinās Dievs?
Vai tad Visuaugstais visu zina? –
12 Redzi, tādi ir ļaundari,
allaž tie dīki, bet manta nāk.
13 Tad velti es šķīstīju sirdi
un nevainībā mazgāju rokas –
14 sists es tiku augu dienu
un pārmācīts ik rītu.
15 Ja es nolemtu: runāšu kā tie! –
es būtu pievīlis tavu bērnu cilti.
16 Kad es pūlējos izprast,
tas man likās pārlieku grūti,
17 līdz ienācu Dieva svētnīcā –
tur sapratu, kāds tiem būs gals!
18 Patiesi, kur glums, tu tos ved,
tu liec tiem sabrukt pīšļos!
19 Redzi, tie satriekti vienā mirklī,
aizrauti prom nāves šausmās.
20 Kā nomoda sapnis tie ir, mans Kungs, –
kad modīsies, tev riebs viņu tēli!
21 Kad rūgtin rūga mana sirds
un manās iekšās durtin dūra,
22 es biju kā lops bez saprašanas
un kā kustonis tavā priekšā.
23 Nu esmu vienmēr ar tevi,
tu ņem mani aiz labās rokas,
24 ar savu padomu vadi mani,
vēlāk tu godā mani pieņemsi!
25 Kas man debesīs?
Kad tu kopā ar mani –
neko nevēlos virs zemes!
26 Nīks mana miesa un sirds,
bet manas sirds klints un daļa – Dievs mūžam!
27 Jo, redzi, kas tālu no tevis, ies bojā,
tu izdeldē visus, kas neuzticīgi tev!
28 Bet es – Dieva tuvumā man ir labi,
pie Dieva Kunga es tveros,
lai paustu visus tavus darbus!
