1 ¶ Truly God is good to Israel, to those who have a clean heart.

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; and I almost lost my footing.

3 For I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have an easy time until they die: and they are well nourished.

5 They have no drudgery like other men; nor are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride surrounds them like a chain; violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes swell out with fatness: their hearts overflow with illusions.

8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they talk disdainfully.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue wags against the earth.

10 Therefore his people turn to them: and drink down all they say like water.

11 And they ask, How can God know? is the most High aware of everything?

12 Look, at the wicked, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 Truly I have kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence, for nothing.

14 For I am afflicted all day long, and punished every morning.

15 ¶ If I had decided to speak that way; I would have misled the generation of your children.

16 When I thought this over to understand it, it was too difficult for me;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

18 Surely you have placed the wicked in slippery places: you make them fall into ruin and destruction.

19 How quickly they will be destroyed, in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one wakes up; so, when you awake, O Lord, , you will despise the very thought of them.

21 ¶ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was stirred up inside.

22 I am so foolish, and do not understand: I am like an animal in your presence.

23 But I am always with you: you hold my right hand.

24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me into glory.

25 Who do I have in heaven but you? and I desire nothing on earth but you.

26 My flesh and my heart fails: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

27 For, those who wander from you will perish: you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.

28 So it is best for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in you, Lord GOD, so I can tell of all that you have done.

Psalm 74

Played skillfully by Asaph.

1 ¶ O God, why have you cast us off forever? why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember your congregation, which you purchased long ago; and redeemed as the tribe for your inheritance; this mount Zion, on which you have dwelt.

3 Direct your feet to the continuing devastation; even all that the enemy has wrecked in the sanctuary.

4 Your enemies roar in the place where your congregation met; they set up their own ensigns as banners.

5 It was like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees.

6 Then smashing all of the carved work of the holy place with axes and picks.

7 They have set your holy place on fire, they have defiled the sanctuary bearing your name by tearing it down to the ground.

8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them altogether: they have burned down all the synagogues of God in the land.

9 We do not see signs: there is no longer a prophet: nor is there anyone among us who knows how long this will last.

10 O God, how long will the enemy insult us? will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? draw it out of your bosom.

12 ¶ For God my King is of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

13 You divided the sea by your strength: you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

14 You crushed the heads of the leviathan, and gave him as food to the sharks in the sea.

15 You opened the rock to make fountains and streams: you dried up mighty rivers.

16 The day is yours, and the night is also yours: you have prepared the light and the sun.

17 You have set all the boundaries of the earth: you make summer and winter.

18 ¶ Remember how the enemy has defied you, O LORD, and how the foolish people have blasphemed your name.

19 Do not deliver the life of your turtledove to the wicked multitude: do not forget the congregation of your poor for ever.

20 Have regard for your covenant: because darkness and dens of violence have filled the earth.

21 Do not let the oppressed return in disgrace: let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, plead your own cause: remember how the fool defies you all day long.

23 Do not forget the shouting of your enemies: the tumult of those who rise up against you continually increases.