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

Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.

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

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.

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

For I was envious of the boastful, 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 pangs 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, Nor 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 serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like 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 bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.

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

They scoff 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 walks through the earth.

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

Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

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

And they say, “How does 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 are always at ease; They increase in riches.

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

Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.

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

For all day long I have 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 had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your 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 how to understand 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 I understood their end.

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

Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

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

Oh, how they are brought to 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 awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall 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 vexed in my mind.

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

I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

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

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.

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

You will guide me with Your 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 You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

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 fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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 indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

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 G OD, That I may declare all Your works.