BOOK III
(A psalm by Asaph.)
God Is Good
1 God is truly good to Israel,
especially to everyone
with a pure heart.
2 But I almost stumbled and fell,
3 because it made me jealous
to see proud and evil people
and to watch them prosper.
4 They never have to suffer,
they stay healthy,
5 and they don't have troubles
like everyone else.
6 Their pride is like a necklace,
and they commit sin more often
than they dress themselves.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat,
and their minds are flooded
with foolish thoughts.
8 They sneer and say cruel things,
and because of their pride,
they make violent threats.
9 They dare to speak against God
and to order others around.
10 God will bring his people back,
and they will drink the water
he so freely gives.
11 Only evil people would say,
“God Most High cannot
know everything!”
12 Yet all goes well for them,
and they live in peace.
13 What good did it do me
to keep my thoughts pure
and refuse to do wrong?
14 I am sick all day,
and I am punished
each morning.
15 If I had said evil things,
I would not have been loyal
to your people.
16 It was hard for me
to understand all this!
17 Then I went to your temple,
and there I understood
what will happen
to my enemies.
18 You will make them stumble,
never to get up again.
19 They will be terrified,
suddenly swept away
and no longer there.
20 They will disappear, Lord,
despised like a bad dream
the morning after.
21 Once I was bitter
and brokenhearted.
22 I was stupid and ignorant,
and I treated you
as a wild animal would.
23 But I never really left you,
and you hold my right hand.
24 Your advice has been my guide,
and later you will welcome me
in glory.
25 In heaven I have only you,
and on this earth
you are all I want.
26 My body and mind may fail,
but you are my strength
and my choice forever.
27 All-Powerful Lord God,
those who stay far from you
will be lost,
and you will destroy those
who are unfaithful.
28 It is good for me
to be near you.
I choose you as my protector,
and I will tell about
your wonderful deeds.
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 well neere 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 and 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.