⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹ Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

² But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

³ For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

⁵ They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

⁷ Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

⁸ They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

⁹ They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

¹¹ They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

¹² Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

¹³ Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,

¹⁴ For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

¹⁶ When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

¹⁷ Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

¹⁸ Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

¹⁹ How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

²⁰ As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

²¹ For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

²² I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

²³ Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

²⁴ You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

²⁷ For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

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. A contemplation by Asaph.