^{1 Ref} A Psalm of Asaph. Only -- good to Israel `is' God, to the clean of heart. And I -- as a little thing, My feet have been turned aside,

^{2 Ref} As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,

^{3 Ref} The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,

^{4 Ref} And their might `is' firm.

^{5 Ref} In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.

^{6 Ref} Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.

^{7 Ref} Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;

^{8 Ref} They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.

^{9 Ref} They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.

^{10 Ref} Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.

^{11 Ref} And they have said, `How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'

^{12 Ref} Lo, these `are' the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.

^{13 Ref} Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,

^{14 Ref} And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof `is' every morning.

^{15 Ref} If I have said, `I recount thus,' Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.

^{16 Ref} And I think to know this, Perverseness it `is' in mine eyes,

^{17 Ref} Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.

^{18 Ref} Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.

^{19 Ref} How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended -- consumed from terrors.

^{20 Ref} As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.

^{21 Ref} For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,

^{22 Ref} And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.

^{23 Ref} And I `am' continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.

^{24 Ref} With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.

^{25 Ref} Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.

^{26 Ref} Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion `is' God to the age.

^{27 Ref} For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.

^{28 Ref} And I -- nearness of God to me `is' good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!

^{1 Ref} > Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart.

^{2 Ref} But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

^{3 Ref} For I was envious of the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

^{4 Ref} For there are no struggles in their death, But their strength is firm.

^{5 Ref} They are free from burdens of men, Neither are they plagued like other men.

^{6 Ref} Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

^{7 Ref} Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

^{8 Ref} They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

^{9 Ref} They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

^{10 Ref} Therefore their people return to them, And they drink up waters of abundance.

^{11 Ref} They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

^{12 Ref} Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

^{13 Ref} Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,

^{14 Ref} For all day long have I been plagued, And punished every morning.

^{15 Ref} If I had said, "I will speak thus;" Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

^{16 Ref} When I tried to understand this, It was too painful for me;

^{17 Ref} Until I entered God's sanctuary, And considered their latter end.

^{18 Ref} Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

^{19 Ref} How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

^{20 Ref} As a dream when one wakes up, So, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

^{21 Ref} For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

^{22 Ref} I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

^{23 Ref} Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

^{24 Ref} You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

^{25 Ref} Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.

^{26 Ref} My flesh and my heart fails, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

^{27 Ref} For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

^{28 Ref} But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, That I may tell of all your works.