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¹ A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.² As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had welneere slipt.³ For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.⁴ For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.⁵ They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.⁶ Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.⁷ Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.⁸ They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.⁹ They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.¹⁰ Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.¹¹ And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?¹² Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.¹³ Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.¹⁴ For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.

¹⁵ If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.¹⁶ Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,¹⁷ Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.¹⁸ Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,²⁰ As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.

²¹ Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:²² So foolish was I & ignorant: I was a beast before thee.²³ Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.²⁴ Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.²⁵ Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.²⁶ My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.²⁷ For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.²⁸ As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.