Quam bonus Israel Deus. The temptation of the weak, upon seeing the prosperity of the wicked, is overcome by the consideration of the justice of God, who will quickly render to every one according to his works.

 1 A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
Psalmus Asaph. Quam bonus Israel Deus, his qui recto sunt corde!

 2 But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
Mei autem pene moti sunt pedes, pene effusi sunt gressus mei;

 3 Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
quia zelavi super iniquos, pacem peccatorum videns.

 4 For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
Quia non est respectus morti eorum, et firmamentum in plaga eorum.

 5 They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
In labore hominum non sunt, et cum hominibus non flagellabuntur.

 6 Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
Ideo tenuit eos superbia; operti sunt iniquitate et impietate sua.

 7 Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
Prodiit quasi ex adipe iniquitas eorum; transierunt in affectum cordis.

 8 They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
Cogitaverunt et locuti sunt nequitiam; iniquitatem in excelso locuti sunt.

 9 They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
Posuerunt in caelum os suum, et lingua eorum transivit in terra.

 10 Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
Ideo convertetur populus meus hic, et dies pleni invenientur in eis.

 11 And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Et dixerunt : Quomodo scit Deus, et si est scientia in excelso?

 12 Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
Ecce ipsi peccatores, et abundantes in saeculo, obtinuerunt divitias.

 13 And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
Et dixi : Ergo sine causa justificavi cor meum, et lavi inter innocentes manus meas;

 14 And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
et fui flagellatus tota die, et castigatio mea in matutinis.

 15 If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
Si dicebam : Narrabo sic; ecce nationem filiorum tuorum reprobavi.

 16 I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
Existimabam ut cognoscerem hoc; labor est ante me :

 17 Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
donec intrem in sanctuarium Dei, et intelligam in novissimis eorum.

 18 But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
Verumtamen propter dolos posuisti eis; dejecisti eos dum allevarentur.

 19 How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
Quomodo facti sunt in desolationem? subito defecerunt; perierunt propter iniquitatem suam.

 20 As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
Velut somnium surgentium, Domine, in civitate tua imaginem ipsorum ad nihilum rediges.

 21 For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
Quia inflammatum est cor meum, et renes mei commutati sunt;

 22 And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
et ego ad nihilum redactus sum, et nescivi;

 23 I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
ut jumentum factus sum apud te, et ego semper tecum.

 24 Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
Tenuisti manum dexteram meam, et in voluntate tua deduxisti me, et cum gloria suscepisti me.

 25 For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
Quid enim mihi est in caelo? et a te quid volui super terram?

 26 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.
Defecit caro mea et cor meum; Deus cordis mei, et pars mea, Deus in aeternum.

 27 For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
Quia ecce qui elongant se a te peribunt; perdidisti omnes qui fornicantur abs te.

 28 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.
Mihi autem adhaerere Deo bonum est, ponere in Domino Deo spem meam; ut annuntiem omnes praedicationes tuas in portis filiae Sion.