1 S urely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart.

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

3 F or I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or 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 plagued like other men.

6 T herefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

7 T heir eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

8 T hey scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

9 T hey have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 T herefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 A nd they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 B ehold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13 S urely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

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

15 I f I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16 W hen I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

17 U ntil I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.

18 S urely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.

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

20 A s a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21 F or my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:

22 S o brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee.

23 N evertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

24 T hou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

26 M y flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 F or, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.

28 B ut it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.