BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Surely God Is Good to Israel

1A psalme of Asaph. Truely the Lorde is very good vnto Israel: vnto such as haue a cleane heart.

2Neuerthelesse, my feete were almost gone from me: my steppes had almost slypt.

3For I enuied at the case of the foolishe: I sawe the wicked flowe in all kynde of prosperitie.

4For there be no bondes of death that can holde them: and the galaries of their houses be strong.

5They come in no misfortune lyke other folke: neither are they plagued lyke other men.

6And this is the cause that pride compasse them rounde about: and crueltie couereth them as a garment.

7Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: and the cogitations of their heartes do passe from them.

8They make other dissolute, they speake oppression with iniurie: they talke proudely and presumptuously.

9For they stretch foorth their mouth vnto the heauen: and their tongue goeth through the worlde.

10Therfore God his people turneth thither: and there is drawen vnto them waters in a full cuppe.

11And they say, howe shoulde God perceaue it? is there knowledge in the most hyghest?

12Lo these vngodly and fortunate in the worlde: do possesse riches.

13Truely I haue cleansed my heart in vayne: and wasshed my handes in innocencie.

14All the day long I haue ben scourged: and chastened euery mornyng.

15If I shoulde say that I woulde iudge after this sort: lo then I shoulde condempne the generation of thy children.

16Therfore I considered howe I might vnderstande this: but it was to paynefull in myne eyes.

17Untyll I went vnto the sanctuarie of God: and vnderstood the ende of them.

18Truely thou doest set them in slippery places: and castest them downe headlong for to be destroyed.

19Oh howe be they brought to a destruction euen vpon a sodayne: they faynt, they consume away for very dread.

20They be as a dreame to a man after he is once waked: O Lorde thou wylt cause their image to be dispised in the citie.

21Ueryly thus was my heart inflamed: thus was my reynes pricked.

22So foolishe was I and voyde of vnderstanding: I was euen a bruite beast before thee.

23Neuerthelesse I am alway with thee: for thou hast holden me by my ryght hande.

24Thou hast guyde me with thy counsayle: and after that thou receauedst me with glorie.

25Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and there is none vpon earth that I desire besides thee.

26My fleshe and my heart fayleth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer.

27For lo, they that kepe them selues a loofe from thee shall perishe: thou destroyest euery one that committeth fornication agaynst thee.

28But it is good for me to come neare vnto God: wherfore I put my trust in thee O Lorde God, that I may declare all thy workes.