Psalm 73

TO Isr'el truly God is good,
To each true-hearted one:
But as for me I scarcely stood,
my feet were almost gone.
Wel-nigh my steps had slipt aside,
For I did envious grow
At wicked men, whom I descri'd
To speed and prosper so.
For in their death no bands there are.
Their strength is firm and sure:
They have no plagues, no grief, no care,
Which other men indure.
As therefore with a chain are those
Incompass'd round with pride:
And violence doth them inclose
And (like a garment) hide.
Their eies with fatness swell and stare,
No heart can wish such hoards:
Exceedingly corrupt they are,
And speak great swelling words.
They lewdly speak concerning wrong,
Against the heav'ns they talk;
And their unbridled lavish tongue
Throughout the earth doth walk.
Therefore his people hither stray,
And brimfull waters flow,
Wrung out to them, and thus they say,
How doth God come to know?
Is knowledge sure in God most high?
Behold there are the lewd;
Who have the worlds prosperity
And riches multitude.

2. Part.
NOw surely I, on poor pretence,
Have cleans'd my heart in vain:
And washt my hands in innocence
With labour for my pain.
For I was dieted all day
With plagues for my repast:
And every morning was my pay
With blows to break my fast.
Yet if I utter these complaints,
I should (said I) offend
The generation of thy Saints,
And rashly read their end.
Then thought I how to cleer this doubt
And see the full extent:
But found it hard to find it out
Till I to Sion went.
I saw their end made recompence,
On slipp'ry seats they sit;
Thou setst them there to cast them thence
Into destructions pit.
A moment brings their misery,
O great and wondrous change!
They are consumed utterly
With thoughts of terror strange.
Even as a dream in fancies brow,
from walking senses flies;
So Lord when thou awak'st shalt thou
Their image quite despise.

3. Part.
THis prick't my reins and griev'd my heart,
Such folly didst thou see
And brutish errour on my part,
Yet I am still with thee:
Thy right hand's all my stay and guard,
Thy counsell all my guide,
And shall receive me afterward
To heaven glorifi'd.
In heaven I have none but thee,
Nor is there any one
That lives on earth desir'd of me,
Except thy self alone.
My flesh and heart now fail in mee,
But God doth fail me never:
The strengthner of my heart is he
And heritage for ever.
For they that are estrang'd from thee
Shall perish every one:
Thou hast destroy'd all them that be
From thee a whoring gone.
But unto God draw neer I must
For that's my wisest care:
In God the Lord I put my trust
All thy works to declare.