TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.
 
Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
 
And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
 
For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.
 
They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.
 
And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
 
Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.
 
They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.
 
For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.
 
Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.
 
Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?
 
Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:
 
And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.
 
All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.
 
Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
 
Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,
 
Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;
 
Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.
 
O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!
 
Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
 
Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.
 
So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.
 
Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
 
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.
 
Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
 
My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
 
For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.
 
But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
 
O think upon thy congregation, * whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
 
Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, * and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
 
Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy, * which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
 
Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations, * and set up their banners for tokens.
 
He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees, * was known to bring it to an excellent work.
 
But now they break down all the carved work thereof * with axes and hammers.
 
They have set fire upon thy holy places, * and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
 
Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogether: * thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
 
We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; * no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
 
O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? * shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever?
 
Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
 
For God is my King of old; * the help that is done upon earth, he doeth it himself.
 
Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; * thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
 
Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces, * and gavest him to be meat for the people of the wilderness.
 
Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks; * thou driedst up mighty waters.
 
The day is thine, and the night is thine; * thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
 
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; * thou hast made summer and winter.
 
Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy hath rebuked; * and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
 
O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies; * and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
 
Look upon the covenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.
 
O let not the simple go away ashamed; * but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
 
Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause; * remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
 
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: * the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.

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