A song by Asaf.

1 Surely God is good to Yisrael (Israel)—

to those with pure motives

2 but as for me, my feet almost slipped.

My steps were caused to nearly slide out from under me

3 because I was envious of arrogant people

when I saw how wicked people prosper,

4 because they live without pains

and their bodies are strong and healthy.

5 They are free from normal human struggles,

≈ and they don’t suffer along with everyone else.

6 Therefore pride is a necklace for them—

violence covers them like a coat.

7 Their eyes bulge out from their fatness.

Their heads are full of imaginative schemes.

8 They mock and speak with oppressive evil.

They speak from an elevated place.[fn]

9 They set their mouth in the heavens,

and their tongue goes through the earth.[fn]

10 Therefore his people turn here,

and full waters are drained in/by them.[fn]

11 Then they say, “How does God know?

≈ Does the highest one notice what’s going on?”

12 Look at these wicked people.

They’re always at ease—increasing in wealth.

13 Surely I wasted my time keeping my mind pure

and washing my hands in innocence,

14 because I’ve been stricken throughout the day,

≈ and punished every morning.

15 If I’d said that I’d speak like that,

wow, I would have betrayed your children’s generation.

16 And when I thought about how to understand this,

it was very difficult for me to figure it out

17 until I went into God’s sanctuaries,

then I discerned their end.

18 Surely you put them onto slippery places.

≈ You make them fall to destruction.

19 How they are brought down to nothing as in a moment.

They’re finished—they come to a terrifying end

20 ⇔My master, when you rouse yourself, you’ll despise their image,

like a dream after the person wakes up.

21 When my heart was embittered,

and my organs felt like they had a knife in them,

22 I was stupid and ignorant.

I acted toward you like an animal.

23 Yet I’m with you continuously—

you take hold of my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you’ll receive me with honour.

25 Who else do I have I in heaven to help me other than you?

≈ And there’s nothing on the earth that I desire more than you.

26 My muscles and my heart fail,

but God is the strength of my heart and my fulfilment forever.

27 Yes, listen, those who are far from you must die.

You destroy every one who’s unfaithful to you.

28 As for me, approaching God is good for me.

I have made my master Yahweh my safe place

so that I can tell everyone about what you’ve done.