The Nearness of God Is My Good

A Psalm of Asaph.

1Surely God is good to Israel,

To those who are pure in heart!

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

My steps [†]had almost slipped.

3For I was envious of the boastful,

I saw the peace of the wicked.

4For there are no pains in their death,

And their [†]body is fat.

5They are not [†]in trouble as other [†]men,

And they are not stricken along with the rest of mankind.

6Therefore lofty pride is their necklace;

The garment of violence covers them.

7Their eye [†]bulges from fatness;

The delusions of their heart overflow.

8They scoff and [†]wickedly speak of oppression;

They speak from on high.

9They have set their mouth [†]against the heavens,

And their tongue goes through the earth.

10Therefore [†]his people return here, to his place,

And waters of fullness are [†]drunk by them.

11They say, “How does God know?

And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked;

And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13Surely in vain I have [†]kept my heart pure

And washed my hands in innocence;

14For I have been stricken all day long

And [†]reproved every morning.

15If I had said, “I will recount thus,”

Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16When I gave thought to know this,

It was trouble in my sight

17Until I came into the [†]sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.

18Surely You set them in slippery places;

You cause them to fall to [†]destruction.

19How they become desolate in a moment!

They are completely swept away by terrors!

20Like a dream when one awakes,

O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their [†]form.

21When my heart was embittered

And I was pierced [†]within,

22Then I was senseless and ignorant;

I was like [†]an animal [†]before You.

23Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You have taken hold of my right hand.

24With Your counsel You will lead me,

And afterward take me [†]in glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You?

And [†]besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

26My flesh and my heart fail,

But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.

27For, behold, those who are far from You will perish;

You have [†]destroyed everyone who [†]is unfaithful to You.

28But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;

I have set Lord Yahweh as my refuge,

That I may recount all Your works.