72
1 A Psalm for Asaph.
How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart! 2 But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped. 3 For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquillity of sinners.
4 For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction. 5 They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men. 6 Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness. 7 Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention. 8 They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily. 9 They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth. 10 Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found *with them. 11 And they said, How does God know? and †is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning. 15 If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of thy children. 16 And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me, 17 until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.
18 Surely thou hast appointed judgments to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up. 19 How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity. 20 As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been ‡gladdened. 22 But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee. 23 Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand. 24 Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory. 25 For what have I in heaven but thee? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee? 26 My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
* 72:10 Gr. in. † 72:11 Gr. if there is. ‡ 72:21 Gr. changed.