| 1 | Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart.
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| 2 | But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
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| 3 | For I was envious of the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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| 4 | For there are no struggles in their death, But their strength is firm.
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| 5 | They are free from burdens of men, Neither are they plagued like other men.
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| 6 | Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
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| 7 | Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
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| 8 | They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
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| 9 | They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
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| 10 | Therefore their people return to them, And they drink up waters of abundance.
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| 11 | They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
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| 12 | Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
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| 13 | Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,
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| 14 | For all day long have I been plagued, And punished every morning.
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| 15 | If I had said, "I will speak thus;" Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
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| 16 | When I tried to understand this, It was too painful for me;
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| 17 | Until I entered God's sanctuary, And considered their latter end.
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| 18 | Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
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| 19 | How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
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| 20 | As a dream when one wakes up, So, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
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| 21 | For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
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| 22 | I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
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| 23 | Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
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| 24 | You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
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| 25 | Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.
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| 26 | My flesh and my heart fails, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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| 27 | For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
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| 28 | But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, That I may tell of all your works. Psalm 74 A contemplation by Asaph.
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