- [A psalme of Asaph.]
- 1
- Truely the Lorde is very good vnto Israel: vnto such as haue a cleane heart.
- 2
- Neuerthelesse, my feete were almost gone from me: my steppes had almost slypt.
- 3
- For I enuied at the case of the foolishe: I sawe the wicked [flowe] in all kynde of prosperitie.
- 4
- For there be no bondes of death that can holde them: and the galaries of their houses be strong.
- 5
- They come in no misfortune lyke other folke: neither are they plagued lyke other men.
- 6
- And this is the cause that pride compasse them rounde about: and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
- 7
- Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: and the cogitations of their heartes do passe from them.
- 8
- They make other dissolute, they speake oppression with iniurie: they talke proudely and presumptuously.
- 9
- For they stretch foorth their mouth vnto the heauen: and their tongue goeth through the worlde.
- 10
- Therfore [God] his people turneth thither: and there is drawen vnto them waters in a full [cuppe.]
- 11
- And they say, howe shoulde God perceaue it?
is there knowledge in the most hyghest?
- 12
- Lo these vngodly and fortunate in the worlde: do possesse riches.
- 13
- Truely I haue cleansed my heart in vayne: and wasshed my handes in innocencie.
- 14
- All the day long I haue ben scourged: and chastened euery mornyng.
- 15
- If I shoulde say that I woulde iudge after this sort: lo then I shoulde condempne the generation of thy children.
- 16
- Therfore I considered howe I might vnderstande this: but it was to paynefull in myne eyes.
- 17
- Untyll I went vnto the sanctuarie of God: and vnderstood the ende of them.
- 18
- Truely thou doest set them in slippery places: and castest them downe headlong for to be destroyed.
- 19
- Oh howe be they brought to a destruction euen vpon a sodayne: they faynt, they consume away for very dread.
- 20
- They be as a dreame to a man after he is once waked: O Lorde thou wylt cause their image to be dispised in the citie.
- 21
- Ueryly thus was my heart inflamed: thus was my reynes pricked.
- 22
- So foolishe was I and voyde of vnderstanding: I was euen a bruite beast before thee.
- 23
- Neuerthelesse I am alway with thee: for thou hast holden me by my ryght hande.
- 24
- Thou hast guyde me with thy counsayle: and after that thou receauedst me with glorie.
- 25
- Whom haue I in heauen but thee?
and there is none vpon earth that I desire besides thee.
- 26
- My fleshe and my heart fayleth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer.
- 27
- For lo, they that kepe them selues a loofe from thee shall perishe: thou destroyest euery one that committeth fornication agaynst thee.
- 28
- But it is good for me to come neare vnto God: [wherfore] I put my trust in thee O Lorde God, that I may declare all thy workes.
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