1 T ruly God is good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart.

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

2 B ut as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

3 F or I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

5 T hey are not in trouble as other men; neither are they smitten and plagued like other men.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

6 T herefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

7 T heir eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart could wish; and the imaginations of their minds overflow.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

8 T hey scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

9 T hey set their mouths against and speak down from heaven, and their tongues swagger through the earth.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 T herefore His people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

11 A nd they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

12 B ehold, these are the ungodly, who always prosper and are at ease in the world; they increase in riches.

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

13 S urely then in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

14 F or all the day long have I been smitten and plagued, and chastened every morning.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 H ad I spoken thus, I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 B ut when I considered how to understand this, it was too great an effort for me and too painful

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

17 U ntil I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.

until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

18 Y ou do set the in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

19 H ow they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 A s a dream until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself, You will despise their outward show.

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

21 F or my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart.

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

22 S o foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

23 N evertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

24 Y ou will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

26 M y flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

27 F or behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You will destroy all who are false to You and like harlots depart from You.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

28 B ut it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.