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¹ BOOK III. A Psalm of Asaph. 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 near 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 common man; Neither are they plagued like man.⁶ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covers 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 walks through the earth.¹⁰ Therefore his people return here: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them.¹¹ And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?¹² Look, these are the wicked; And, being always at ease, they increase in riches.¹³ Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence;¹⁴ For all the day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, I will speak thus; Look, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of your sons.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 you set them in slippery places: You cast them down to destruction.¹⁹ How they have become a desolation in a moment! They are completely consumed with terrors.²⁰ As a dream when one awakes, So, O Lord, when you awake, you will 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 you.²³ Nevertheless I am continually with you: You have held my right hand.²⁴ You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.²⁵ Whom have I in heaven [but you]? And there is none on earth that I desire besides you.²⁶ My flesh and my heart fails; [But] God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.²⁷ For, look, those that are far from you shall perish: You have destroyed all those prostituting from you.²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, That I may tell of all your works.