1 [A Psalm of Asaph.] Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;

3 For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

5 They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like {other} men:

6 Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them {as} a garment;

7 Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

8 They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

9 They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.

11 And they say, How can *God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of *God; {then} understood I their end.

18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

21 When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

22 Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was {as} a beast with thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;

24 Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

25 Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

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

1 Surely God is good to Israel,

Even to such as are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone;

My steps had well nigh slipped.

3 For I was envious at the arrogant,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pangs in their death;

But their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men;

Neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;

Violence covereth them as a garment.

7 Their eyes stand out with fatness:

They have more than heart could wish.

8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression:

They speak loftily.

9 They have set their mouth in the heavens,

And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return hither:

And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 And they say, How doth God know?

And is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Behold, these are the wicked;

And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,

And washed my hands in innocency;

14 For all the day long have I been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, I will speak thus;

Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought how I might know this,

It was too painful for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God,

And considered their latter end.

18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places:

Thou castest them down to destruction.

19 How are they become a desolation in a moment!

They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awaketh,

So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21 For my soul was grieved,

And I was pricked in my heart:

22 So brutish was I, and ignorant;

I was as a beast before thee.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee:

Thou hast holden my right hand.

24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel,

And afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

26 My flesh and my heart faileth;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:

Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.

28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God:

I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge,

That I may tell of all thy works.