BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Truly God is good to Israel,—To those who are pure in heart.

² Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:

³ For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.

⁵ They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.

⁷ From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.

⁸ They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;

⁹ They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;

¹⁰ Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.

¹¹ And they say, "How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?"

¹² Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.

¹³ Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴ For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.

¹⁵ If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.

¹⁶ So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;

¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.

¹⁸ Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.

¹⁹ How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!

²⁰ As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.

²¹ When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,

²² Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.

²³ Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.

²⁴ Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?

²⁶ Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

²⁷ For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.

²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.