A Psalm of Asaph 1 Yet God is good to Israel, To those who are right in heart. 2 As for me, wellnigh slipped had my feet, My steps were almost gone: 3 For I was envious at the foolish, On seeing the prosperity of the ungodly. 4 For there are no bands to their death, And vigorous is their strength. 5 In the [common] trouble of man they are not; And with other men they are not scourged. 6 Therefore encompass them as a chain doth pride; Covered them hath the raiment of violence. 7 Their eye projecteth through fatness; They have passed beyond the thoughts of their heart. 8 They break forth, and talk wickedly of extortion: From on high do they speak. 9 They have set against the heaven their mouth, And their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 On this account his people will return hither, And waters of a full cup will be wrung out to them. 11 And they say, "How doth God know? " "And is there knowledge in the Most High?" 12 Behold these are the ungodly, and [yet] they are in quiet for ever: They heap up riches. 13 Surely in vain I have purified my heart, And washed every day my hands: 14 And I have been scourged every day, And my chastisement [has been] every morning. 15 If I have said, "I will speak thus," Behold! the generation of thy children: I have transgressed. 16 And although I applied my mind to know this, A pain fill thing it was in mine eyes, 17 Until I entered into the sanctuaries of God, And understood their end. 18 Surely in slippery places thou hast set them; Thou shalt east them down into destructions. 19 How have they been destroyed as in a moment! They have perished, they have been consumed with terrors. 20 As it were a dream after a man is awakened; O Lord! in awaking, their image thou wilt render contemptible. 21 For in a ferment was my heart, And in my reins I was pierced. 22 And I myself [was] foolish and knew not any thing; As the beasts have I been before thee. 23 Nevertheless I have been continually with thee; Thou hast held my right hand. 24 With thy counsel thou shalt guide me; And at length to glory thou shalt take me. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And another with time I have not desired on the earth. 26 Failed have my flesh and my heart; But the strength of my heart and my portion is God for ever. 27 For lo! those who depart from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed every one who goeth a whoring from thee. 28 As for me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Jehovah my trust, That I may tell of all thy works. Footnotes: [344] According to the Hebrew division, Part 3 extends from Psalm 73 to Psalm 89 inclusive |
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