Psalm 73

SUrely to Israel God is good,
and gracious is he
To all that in their hearts upright
and clean before him be.
But as for me through thoughts of heart
my steps were almost gone,
My feet were almost slipt through force
of strong temptation.

For at the fools that flourished,
I fretted enviously,
And at the wicked, when I saw
their great prosperity.
For these in ease live, and do not
in pains and torments dye,
Their strength is firm, and so it doth
abide continually.

When others in distresses are,
they are not troubled then,
Nor are by God or other means
plagued like other men.
Therefore pride like a costly chain
adorns and sets them out,
As a rich garment, violence
covers them round about.

With fatnesse do their eyes stand out,
they such abundance have,
And wealth and riches they enjoy
more then their heart can crave.
They are corrupt in heart and life,
and they speak wickedly,
And vaunt of their oppressions,
yea, they speak loftily.

Against Heav'n open they their mouths
in vile blaspheming talk,
And proudly their unbridled tongue
through all the earth doth walk.
With this Gods people shaken are,
turn back and look about,
When they see waters from a cup
so full at them wrong out.

The Second part.

And in their weaknesse thus they say,
how doth God all things know?
Doth the most high full knowledge take
of things done here below?
Behold, those the ungodly are,
who live in outward peace,
And they do prosper in the world,
in riches they increase.

Then said I, verily my heart
in vain cleansed have I,
And to abstain from sin, my hands
have washt in purity.
For notwithstanding this I still
am plagued every day,
And ev'ry morning chastisements
thou dost upon me lay.

If I should thus conclude, against
the generation, I,
Of thine own children, should offend,
and trespasse grievously.
But when I thought to search the depth
of this great mystery,
It was too hard a task for me,
and painful in mine eye.

Until at last I me betook
unto Gods sanctuary,
And there out of Gods Word I learn'd
what their last end should be.
Verily slippery places thou
didst choose to set them on,
And by thine hand didst cast them down
into destruction.

How into desolations
are they brought suddenly,
With fearful terrours are they all
consumed utterly.
Like as a dream when one awakes,
doth vanish from his eyes,
So, Lord, thou when thou risest up
their shadow wilt despise.

The Third Part.

Yet thus was my weak heart a while
disquieted in vain,
Through indignation my reins
were pricked with great pain.
So ignorant was I, and like
a fool besotted quite,
And without understanding, was
like a beast in thy sight.

Neverthelesse I do remain
continually with thee,
When I was weak, by my right hand
thou fast haft holden mee.
Thou by thy faithful counsel wilt
me always safely guide,
And after me receive with thee
in glory to abide.

In Heaven whom have I but thee
to rest upon alone?
And on the earth that I desire,
besides thee there is none.
Mine heart and flesh doth fail me both,
but God doth fail me never,
For he is of mine heart the strength,
my portion he for ever.

For lo, they that go far from thee,
shall perish quite and fall,
Those that a whoring go from thee,
thou hast destroyed all.
But surely it is good for me
still to draw near to God,
In the Lord God I trust, that I
may shew thy works abroad.