Psalms

A Psalm by Asaph.

1Surely Godis good to Israel,to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet were almost gone.My steps had nearly slipped.

3For I was envious of the arrogant,when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4For there are no struggles in their death,but their strength is firm.

5They are free from burdens of men,neither are they plagued like other men.

6Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.Violence covers them like a garment.

7Their eyes bulge with fat.Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

8They scoff and speak with malice.In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

9They have set their mouth in the heavens.Their tongue walks through the earth.

10Therefore their people return to them,and they drink up waters of abundance.

11They say, “How does God know?Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked.Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,and washed my hands in innocence,

14For all day long I have been plagued,and punished every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak thus”,behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16When I tried to understand this,it was too painful for me—

17until I entered God’s sanctuary,and considered their latter end.

18Surely you set them in slippery places.You throw them down to destruction.

19How they are suddenly destroyed!They are completely swept away with terrors.

20As a dream when one wakes up,so, Lord,when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

21For my soul was grieved.I was embittered in my heart.

22I was so senseless and ignorant.I was a brute beast before you.

23Nevertheless, I am continually with you.You have held my right hand.

24You will guide me with your counsel,and afterward receive me to glory.

25Whom do I have in heaven?There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart fails,but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

28But it is good for me to come close to God.I have made the Lord GODmy refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

1A Psalm of Asaph. Only — good to Israel [is] God, to the clean of heart. And I — as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,

2As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,

3The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,

4And their might [is] firm.

5In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.

6Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.

7Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;

8They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.

9They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.

10Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.

11And they have said, 'How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'

12Lo, these [are] the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.

13Only — a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,

14And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof [is] every morning.

15If I have said, 'I recount thus,' Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.

16And I think to know this, Perverseness it [is] in mine eyes,

17Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.

18Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.

19How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended — consumed from terrors.

20As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.

21For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,

22And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.

23And I [am] continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.

24With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.

25Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.

26Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion [is] God to the age.

27For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.

28And I — nearness of God to me [is] good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!