A Psalm by Asaph.

• ¹Surely God *The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “Elohim.” is good to Israel,
• to those who are pure in heart.

• ²But as for me, my feet were almost gone.
• My steps had nearly slipped.

• ³For I was envious of the arrogant,
• when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

• ⁴For there are no struggles in their death,
• but their strength is firm.

• ⁵They are free from burdens of men,
• neither are they plagued like other men.

• ⁶Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.
• Violence covers them like a garment.

• ⁷Their eyes bulge with fat.
• Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

• ⁸They scoff and speak with malice.
• In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

• ⁹They have set their mouth in the heavens.
• Their tongue walks through the earth.

• ¹⁰Therefore their people return to them,
• and they drink up waters of abundance.

• ¹¹They say, “How does God know?
• Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

• ¹²Behold, these are the wicked.
• Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

• ¹³Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart,
• and washed my hands in innocence,

• ¹⁴For all day long have I been plagued,
• and punished every morning.

• ¹⁵If I had said, “I will speak thus;”
• behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

• ¹⁶When I tried to understand this,
• it was too painful for me;

• ¹⁷Until I entered God’s sanctuary,
• and considered their latter end.

• ¹⁸Surely you set them in slippery places.
• You throw them down to destruction.

• ¹⁹How they are suddenly destroyed!
• They are completely swept away with terrors.

• ²⁰As a dream when one wakes up,
• so, Lord, *The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.” when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

• ²¹For my soul was grieved.
• I was embittered in my heart.

• ²²I was so senseless and ignorant.
• I was a brute beast before you.

• ²³Nevertheless, I am continually with you.
• You have held my right hand.

• ²⁴You will guide me with your counsel,
• and afterward receive me to glory.

• ²⁵Whom do I have in heaven?
• There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

• ²⁶My flesh and my heart fails,
• but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

• ²⁷For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.
• You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

• ²⁸But it is good for me to come close to God.
• I have made the Lord Yahweh *“Yahweh” is God’s proper Name, sometimes rendered “LORD” (all caps) in other translations. my refuge,
• that I may tell of all your works.