God is surely good to Israel
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A Psalme committed to Asaph. Yet God is good to Israel: euen, to the pure in heart.
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As for me, my feete were almost gone: my steps had well neere slipt.
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For I feared at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperitie of the wicked.
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For there are no bandes in their death, but they are lustie and strong.
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They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
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Therefore pride is as a chayne vnto them, and crueltie couereth them as a garment.
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Their eyes stande out for fatnesse: they haue more then heart can wish.
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They are licentious, and speake wickedly of their oppression: they talke presumptuously.
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They set their mouth against heauen, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
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Therefore his people turne hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
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And they say, Howe doeth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
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Lo, these are the wicked, yet prosper they alway, and increase in riches.
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Certainely I haue clensed mine heart in vaine, and washed mine hands in innocencie.
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For dayly haue I bene punished, and chastened euery morning.
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If I say, I will iudge thus, beholde the generation of thy children: I haue trespassed.
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Then thought I to know this, but it was too painefull for me,
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Vntill I went into the Sanctuarie of God: then vnderstoode I their ende.
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Surely thou hast set them in slipperie places, and castest them downe into desolation.
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How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and horribly consumed,
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As a dreame when one awaketh! O Lord, when thou raisest vs vp, thou shalt make their image despised.
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Certainely mine heart was vexed, and I was pricked in my reines:
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So foolish was I and ignorant: I was a beast before thee.
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Yet I was alway with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
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Thou wilt guide me by thy counsell, and afterward receiue me to glory.
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Whom haue I in heauen but thee? and I haue desired none in the earth with thee.
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My flesh fayleth and mine heart also: but God is the strength of mine heart, and my portion for euer.
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For loe, they that withdrawe themselues from thee, shall perish: thou destroyest all them that goe a whoring from thee.
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As for me, it is good for me to draw neere to God: therefore I haue put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy workes.