the second issue is the personal solution at which the psalmist arrived. the traditional fate of the wicked is hardly a solution, even though it is stated. it is certainly not new; the author is borrowing a well-documented theme in the bible. but he does not stop here; he goes on to consider his own fate: companionship with god. it matters little that there is uncertainty as to whether he refers to life with god after death (see above). the essential vision is clear: god holds him by the hand and guides him, gives him glory. this leads him to assert that god is his only real good, and nearness to god is everything. if there is no immortality here, the modern reader is challenged to determine what role god plays in his or her personal life in the here and now. once more (cf. the exegesis of wis 1:15 in chapter 3) we may need to purify our understanding of god and life.