A psalm of Asaph.
1 TRuly to Israel God is good;
to men of a clean heart.
2 But my feet almost slipt, my steps
aside did well nigh start.
3 For I was envious at the fools,
in peace to see the ill.
4 For in their death no band ‘s there are,
but firm their strength is still.
5 Like other mean men they are not
in toilsome misery,
nor are they stricken with like plagues
as other mortals be.
6 Therefore doth pride like to a chain
encompass them about,
and like a garment; violence
doth cover them throughout.
7 Within the fatness which they have
extended are their eyes:
greater prosperity they gave
then their hearts can devise.
8 Corrupt they are, and wickedly
speak guile: proudly they talk.
9 Against the heav‘ns they set their mouth;
their tongue through th’ earth doth walk.
(2)
10 Therefore his people unto them
have hither turn’d in,
and waters out of a full cup
wrung out to them have been.
11 And they have said, how can it be
that God this thing should know,
and is there in the highest one
knowledge hereof also?
12 Lo, these are the ungodly ones
who have tranquillity:
within the world they do increase
in rich ability.
13 Surely in vain in purity
cleansed my heart have I.
14 And hands in innocence have washt,
for plague’d am I daily:
And every morning chastened.
15 If I think thus to say,
thy children’s generation
lo then I should betray;
16 And when this point to understand
casting I did devise,
the matter too laborious
appeared in mine eyes.
17 Until unto the sanctuary
of God I went, and then
I prudently did understand
the last end of these men.
(3)
18 Surely in places slippery
these men thou placed hast:
and into desolations
thou dost them downward cast.
19 As in a moment, how are they
brought to destruction?
how are they utterly consum’d
with sad confusion?
20 Like to a dream when as a man
awaking doth arise,
so thou o God, when thou awakst
their Image shalt despise.
21 My heart thus was leaven’d with grief,
prickt were my reins by me:
22 So foolish was I, and knew not,
like a beast before thee.
(4)
23 Nevertheless continually
before thee I do stand:
thou hast upheld me stedfastly
also by my right hand.
24 Thou with thy prudent counsel shalt
guidance unto me give:
up afterward also thou shalt
to glory me receive.
25 In heav’n above but thee alone
who is it that I have?
and there is nothing upon earth
besides thee that I crave.
26 This flesh of mine, my heart also
doth fail me altogether:
but God the strength is of my heart,
and portion mine for ever.
27 For lo, they that are far from thee
utterly perish shall:
those who a whoring go from thee
thou hast destroyed all.
28 But as for me, for me it’s good
near God for to repair:
in God the Lord I put my trust,
all thy works to declare.