1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone.
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant,
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death,
but their strength is firm.
5 They are free from burdens of men,
neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.
Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat.
Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 They scoff and speak with malice.
In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens.
Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them,
and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 They say, "How does God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Behold, these are the wicked.
Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
and washed my hands in innocence,
14 For all day long I have been plagued,
and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus",
behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand this,
it was too painful for me—
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary,
and considered their latter end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places.
You throw them down to destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed!
They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up,
so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my soul was grieved.
I was embittered in my heart.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant.
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
You have held my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your counsel,
and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven?
There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart fails,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God.
I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost departed [from the way]; my steps had almost slipped.
3 For I became angry against the foolish [when] I saw the peace of the wicked.
4 Because [there is] no restraint that would bring about their death, but their strength [is] firm.
5 They [are] not in trouble [as other] men; neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 Therefore they are crowned with pride; they cover themselves with violence [as] a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness; they easily obtain the desires of their heart.
8 They are lawless and speak wickedly [of doing] violence; they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people shall return here; and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these ungodly [men], without being troubled by the world obtain riches.
13 Verily, in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency
14 and been plagued all day long and chastened every morning:
15 If I should say, I will speak as they [do]; behold, I should deny the generation of thy sons.
16 I shall meditate that I might understand this; it [is very] hard for me to see.
17 When I come into the sanctuary of God, [then] I shall understand their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; in desolation thou shalt cause them to fall.
19 How they are [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As the dream of [one] who awakes; [so], O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.
21 Truly my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my kidneys.
22 But I [was] ignorant and did not understand; I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I [was] continually with thee; thou hast apprehended [me] by my right hand.
24 Thou hast guided me with thy counsel, and afterward thou shalt receive me [unto] glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And apart from thee [there is] nothing upon the earth [that] I desire.
26 My flesh and my heart fail; the strength of my heart [is] that God is my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, those that stray from thee shall perish; thou dost cut off all those that go a whoring from thee.
28 But [as for me], to draw near to God is good; I have put my hope in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.: