BOOK III

Psalms 73–89

Surely God Is Good to Israel

1Chanting to Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to the clean of heart.

2And I, my feet nearly turned aside; my going was almost poured out.

3For I was envious at the foolish; I shall see the peace of the unjust.

4For not the pains to their death, and their body fat.

5They are not in the trouble of men, and with man they shall not be struck.

6For this, pride surrounded them as a neck-chain; the dress of violence will cover to them.

7Their eye will come forth from fat: they passed over the imaginations of the heart.

8They will mock and speak in evil of oppression: they will speak from elevation.

9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue will go in the earth.

10For this, his people will turn back here: and full water shall be sucked out to them.

11And they said, How did God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

12Behold, these the unjust, and they being secure of the world increased riches.

13Surely in vain I cleansed my heart, and I will wash my hands in cleanness.

14And I am struck all the day, and my reproofs for the mornings.

15If I said, I will recount thus; behold, I transgressed against the generation of thy sons.

16And I shall think to know this, it is labor in mine eyes.

17Till I shall come to the holy place of God I shall not understand for their latter state.

18Surely in slippery places thou wilt set them, to cast them down into ruins.

19How they were for desolation as in a moment they perished; they were finished from sudden destruction.

20As a dream of him awaking, O Jehovah, in awaking thou wilt despise their image.

21For my heart will be embittered, and my loins were hard.

22And I stupid, and I shall not know, and I was a beast with thee.

23And I always with thee: thou didst hold by my right hand.

24In thy counsel thou wilt guide me, and after, thou wilt receive me with glory.

25Who to me in the heavens? and from thee I desired nothing in the earth.

26My flesh failed and my heart: the rock of my heart and my portion is God forever.

27For behold, they being far off from thee shall perish: thou didst lay waste all committing fornication from thee.

28And I drawing near to God, it is good for me: I put in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, to recount all thy works.