1 Sure God is good to Israel,
Ev'n to the clean in heart.
2 But yet my feet had almost slipt,
My steps did well nigh start.
3 For at the foole I envious was,
To see lewd men in peace.
4 For without bands thro' death they pass
Their strength doth nothing cease.
5 Like other men they are not
In toilsome misery:
Nor striken with like plagues are they,
As other mortals be.
6 Pride therefore like a chain doth fence
Them on each side about;
And like a garment, violence
Doth cover them throughout.
7 Out of the fulness of their fat
Extended are their eyes;
They do enjoy more prosperous state
Than what their hearts devise.
8 Corrupt they are, and wickedly
Speak guile; they proudly talk.
9 Their mouth the heavens doth defy,
their tongue thro' th' earth doth walk.
[2]
10 Therefore his people hitherto
Do turn themselves about;
And waters of their cup o'erflow,
That are to them wrung out.
11 And they have said, how can it be
That God this thing should know?
Is there in him that is most high
Hereof the knowledge too?
12 Behold th' ungodly men are these,
Yet have tranquility:
They do within this world increase,
In rich ability.
13 Sure I have cleans'd my heart in vain,
Hands wash'd in innocence.
14 For ev'ry day I plagu'd have been,
Each morn with chastisements.
15 If I should say that I will make
This declaration:
Lo, of thy sons I should offend
The generation.
16 When as I thought this thing to know,
It was too hard for me:
17 Till I did to God's temple go,
Where I their end did see.
[3]
18 Surely in places slippery
These men thou placed hast;
To desolation suddenly
Thou dost them also cast.
19 As in a moment how are they
Brought to destruction?
And how are they consum'd away
With sad confusion?
20 Like to a dream when as a man
Awaking doth arise;
When thou awak'st their image then
O Lord thou shalt despise.
21 My heart with grief was leaven'd so
Prick'd were my reins in me.
22 So foolish I, and did not know,
Like as a beast with thee.
[4]
23 Nevertheless continually
Before thee do I stand;
Thou hast upheld me stedfastly,
Also by my right hand.
24 Thou with thy prudent counsel shall
Direction to me give;
Up afterward also thou shalt
To glory me receive.
25 In heav'n above, but thee alone,
Who is it that I have?
And there is nothing th' earth upon
Besides thee that I crave.
26 This flesh of mine, also my heart,
Do utterly fail me:
The mighty God he is my part
And strength of heart aye's he.
27 For lo, they that are far from thee
Shall utterly decay:
All that a whoring go from thee
Thou shalt consume away.
28 But as for me 'tis good that I
Near unto God repair.
I do on God the Lord rely,
Thy works all do declare.
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