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¹ (72-1) <A psalm for Asaph.> How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!² (72-2) But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.³ (72-3) Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.⁴ (72-4) For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.⁵ (72-5) They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.⁶ (72-6) Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.⁷ (72-7) Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.⁸ (72-8) They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.⁹ (72-9) They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.¹⁰ (72-10) Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.¹¹ (72-11) And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?¹² (72-12) Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.¹³ (72-13) And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.¹⁴ (72-14) And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.

¹⁵ (72-15) If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.¹⁶ (72-16) I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:¹⁷ (72-17) Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.¹⁸ (72-18) But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.¹⁹ (72-19) How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.²⁰ (72-20) As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.

²¹ (72-21) For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:²² (72-22) And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.²³ (72-23) I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.²⁴ (72-24) Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.²⁵ (72-25) For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?²⁶ (72-26) For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.²⁷ (72-27) For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.²⁸ (72-28) But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.