73

Surely God is good to Israel
To those who are pure in heart as He us told
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped
I had nearly lost my foothold

For I envied the arrogant
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked, the wealth to them belong
They have no struggles
Their bodies are healthy and strong

They are free from common human burdens
They are not plagued by human ills
Therefore pride is their necklace
They clothe themselves with violence

From their callous hearts comes iniquity
Their evil imaginations have no limits and for them success is on
They scoff, and speak with malice
With arrogance they threaten oppression

Their mouths lay claim to heaven
And their tongues take possession of the earth
Therefore their people turn to them
And drink up waters in abundance and in mirth

They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything? Where is His strength?”
This is what the wicked are like—
Always free of care, they go on amassing wealth

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
And have washed my hands in innocence
All day long I have been afflicted
And every morning brings new punishments

If I had spoken out like that
I would have betrayed Your children
When I tried to understand all this
It troubled me deeply, it was my burden

It troubled me deeply and it was my burden
Till I entered the sanctuary of God
Then I understood their final destiny
And understood deeply Your, God, word

Surely You place them on slippery ground
You cast them down to ruin using their errors
How suddenly are they destroyed
Completely swept away by terrors!

They are like a dream when one awakes
When you arise, Lord
You will dispel them as fantasies
By Your holy and mighty word

When my heart was grieved
And my spirit embittered not finding You
I was senseless and ignorant
I was a brute beast before You

Yet I am always with You
You hold me by my right hand to calm down my worries
You guide me with Your counsel
And afterward You will take me into glory

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire besides You even if to search ever
My flesh and my heart may fail
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

Those who are far from You will perish
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You
But as for me, it is good to be near God
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge and will tell of all deeds of You