Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases

¹Yet God is good to Israel,

to each pure-hearted one.

²But as for me, my steps near slipp’d,

my feet were almost gone.

³For I envious was, and grudg’d

the foolish folk to see,

When I perceiv’d the wicked sort

enjoy prosperity.

⁴For still their strength continueth firm;

their death of bands is free.

⁵They are not toil’d like other men,

nor plagu’d, as others be.

⁶Therefore their pride, like to a chain,

them compasseth about;

And, as a garment, violence

doth cover them throughout.

⁷Their eyes stand out with fat; they have

more than their hearts could wish.

⁸They are corrupt; their talk of wrong

both lewd and lofty is.

⁹They set their mouth against the heav’ns

in their blasphemous talk;

And their reproaching tongue throughout

the earth at large doth walk.

¹⁰His people oftentimes for this

look back, and turn about;

Sith waters of so full a cup

to these are poured out.

¹¹And thus they say, How can it be

that God these things doth know?

Or, Can there in the Highest be

knowledge of things below?

¹²Behold, these are the wicked ones,

yet prosper at their will

In worldly things; they do increase

in wealth and riches still.

¹³I verily have done in vain

my heart to purify;

To no effect in innocence

washed my hands have I.

¹⁴For daily, and all day throughout,

great plagues I suffer’d have;

Yea, ev’ry morning I of new

did chastisement receive.

¹⁵If in this manner foolishly

to speak I would intend,

Thy children’s generation,

behold, I should offend.

¹⁶When I this thought to know, it was

too hard a thing for me;

¹⁷Till to God’s sanctuary I went,

then I their end did see.

¹⁸Assuredly thou didst them set

a slipp’ry place upon;

Them suddenly thou castedst down

into destruction.

¹⁹How in a moment suddenly

to ruin brought are they!

With fearful terrors utterly

they are consum’d away.

²⁰Ev’n like unto a dream, when one

from sleeping doth arise;

So thou, O Lord, when thou awak’st,

their image shalt despise.

²¹Thus grieved was my heart in me,

and me my reins opprest:

²²So rude was I, and ignorant,

and in thy sight a beast.

²³Nevertheless continually,

O Lord, I am with thee:

Thou dost me hold by my right hand,

and still upholdest me.

²⁴Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,

wilt me conduct and guide;

And to thy glory afterward

receive me to abide.

²⁵Whom have I in the heavens high

but thee, O Lord, alone?

And in the earth whom I desire

besides thee there is none.

²⁶My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,

but God doth fail me never:

For of my heart God is the strength

and portion for ever.

²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee

for ever perish shall;

Them that a whoring from thee go

thou hast destroyed all.

²⁸But surely it is good for me

that I draw near to God:

In God I trust, that all thy works

I may declare abroad.