Surely God is Good to Israel
1{A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
BOOK III Psalms 73–89
Surely God Is Good to Israel
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked. 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 day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus;” behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute 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 do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom 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, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 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.
BOOK III
Psalms 73–89
Surely God Is Good to Israel
A Psalm of Asaph.
1Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggle in their death;
their bodies are well-fed.
5 They are free of the burdens others carry;
they are not afflicted like other men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
a garment of violence covers them.
7 From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; a
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 They mock and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 So their people b return to this place
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked—
always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure;
in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
then I would have betrayed Your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was troublesome in my sight
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary;
then I discerned their end.
18 Surely You set them on slick ground;
You cast them down into ruin.
19 How suddenly they are laid waste,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 Like one waking from a dream,
so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 When my heart was grieved
and I was pierced within,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before You.
23 Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with Your counsel,
and later receive me in glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength c of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those far from You will surely perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, it is good to draw near to God.
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may proclaim all Your works.
Footnotes:
7 a Literally Their eye bulges with fatness ; Syriac From their callous heart proceeds iniquity
10 b Or His people
26 c Hebrew rock
Surely God is Good to Israel
1A 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,
2As nothing, have my steps slipped, For I have been envious of the boastful,
3The peace of the wicked I see, That there are no bands at their death,
4And their might is firm.
5In the misery of mortals they are not, And with common men they are not plagued.
6Therefore hath pride encircled them, Violence covereth them as a dress.
7Their eye hath come out from fat. The imaginations of the heart transgressed;
8They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak.
9They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.
10Therefore do His people return hither, And waters of fulness are wrung out to them.
11And they have said, 'How hath God known? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12Lo, these are the wicked and easy ones of the age, They have increased strength.
13Only -- a vain thing! I have purified my heart, And I wash in innocency my hands,
14And I am plagued all the day, And my reproof is every morning.
15If I have said, 'I recount thus,' Lo, a generation of Thy sons I have deceived.
16And I think to know this, Perverseness it is in mine eyes,
17Till I come in to the sanctuaries of God, I attend to their latter end.
18Only, in slippery places Thou dost set them, Thou hast caused them to fall to desolations.
19How have they become a desolation as in a moment, They have been ended -- consumed from terrors.
20As a dream from awakening, O Lord, In awaking, their image Thou despisest.
21For my heart doth show itself violent, And my reins prick themselves,
22And I am brutish, and do not know. A beast I have been with Thee.
23And I am continually with Thee, Thou hast laid hold on my right hand.
24With Thy counsel Thou dost lead me, And after honour dost receive me.
25Whom have I in the heavens? And with Thee none I have desired in earth.
26Consumed hath been my flesh and my heart, The rock of my heart and my portion is God to the age.
27For, lo, those far from Thee do perish, Thou hast cut off every one, Who is going a whoring from Thee.
28And I -- nearness of God to me is good, I have placed in the Lord Jehovah my refuge, To recount all Thy works!
