  The quark-antiquark bound states are discussed using the relativistic
spectator (Gross) equations. A relativistic covariant framework for analyzing
confined bound states is developed. The relativistic linear potential developed
in an earlier work is proven to give vanishing meson$\to$ $q+\bar{q}$ decay
amplitudes, as required by confinement. The regularization of the singularities
in the linear potential that are associated with nonzero energy transfers (i.e.
$q^2=0,q^{\mu}\neq0$) is improved. Quark mass functions that build chiral
symmetry into the theory and explain the connection between the current quark
and constituent quark masses are introduced. The formalism is applied to the
description of pions and kaons with reasonable results.
