Psalms

¹A Psalm of Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to those who are upright in heart. ↗

²But my feet were nearly moved; my steps had nearly slipped. ↗

³For I was zealous over the iniquitous, seeing the peacefulness of sinners. ↗

⁴For they have no respect for their death, nor do they have support in their wounds. ↗

⁵They are not with the hardships of men, nor will they be scourged with men. ↗

⁶Therefore, arrogance has held on to them. They have been covered with their iniquity and impiety. ↗

⁷Their iniquity has proceeded, as if from fat. They have parted from the affection of the heart. ↗

⁸They have thought and spoken wickedness. They have spoken iniquity in high places. ↗

⁹They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has traversed the earth. ↗

¹⁰Therefore, my people will be converted here, and fullness of days will be found in them. ↗

¹¹And they said, ”How would God know?“ and, ”Isn’t there knowledge in high places?“ ↗

¹²Behold, these are sinners, and, abounding in this age, they have obtained riches. ↗

¹³And I said: So then, it is without purpose that I have justified my heart and washed my hands among the innocent. ↗

¹⁴And I have been scourged all day long, and I have received my chastisement in the mornings. ↗

¹⁵If I were to say that I would explain this: Behold, I would condemn this nation of your sons. ↗

¹⁶I considered, so that I might know this. It is a hardship before me, ↗

¹⁷until I may enter into the Sanctuary of God, and understand it to its last part. ↗

¹⁸So, because of deceitfulness, truly, you have placed it before them. While they were being lifted up, you were casting them down. ↗

¹⁹How have they been brought to desolation? They have suddenly failed. They have perished because of their iniquity. ↗

²⁰As a dream is to those who awaken, O Lord, so will you reduce their image to nothing in your city. ↗

²¹For my heart has been inflamed, and my temperament has been changed. ↗

²²And so, I have been reduced to nothing, and I did not know it. ↗

²³I have become like a beast of burden to you, and I am always with you. ↗

²⁴You have held my right hand. And in your will, you have conducted me, and with your glory, you have taken me up. ↗

²⁵For what is there for me in heaven? And what do I wish for on earth before you? ↗

²⁶My body has failed, and my heart: O God of my heart, and God my portion, into eternity. ↗

²⁷For behold, those who put themselves far from you will perish. You have perished all those who fornicate away from you. ↗

²⁸But it is good for me to adhere to God, to put my hope in the Lord God, so that I may announce all your prophecies, at the gates of the daughter of Zion. ↗