Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israël Deus, his qui recto sunt corde !
A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes, pene effusi sunt gressus mei :
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
Ideo tenuit eos superbia ; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum ; transierunt in affectum cordis.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam ; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
Posuerunt in cælum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
Et dixerunt : Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso ?
And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in sæculo obtinuerunt divitias.
Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
Et dixi : Ergo sine causa justificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas,
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
Si dicebam : Narrabo sic ; ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc ; labor est ante me :
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intelligam in novissimis eorum.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis ; dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem ? subito defecerunt : perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt ;
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi :
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
Tenuisti manum dexteram meam, et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
Quid enim mihi est in cælo ? et a te quid volui super terram ?
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
Defecit caro mea et cor meum ; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in æternum.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
Quia ecce qui elongant se a te peribunt ; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
Mihi autem adhærere Deo bonum est ; ponere in Domino Deo spem meam : ut annuntiem omnes prædicationes tuas in portis filiæ Sion.
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.