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

Truly God is good to Israel, even to those who are upright and 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 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.

For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.

For they suffer no violent 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.

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

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

Therefore pride is about their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment.

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

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

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

They scoff, and wickedly utter oppression; they speak loftily.

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

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

10 T herefore his people return hither: 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 doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

And they say, How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?

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

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

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

Surely then 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.

For all the day long have I been smitten and 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How 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.

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

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

For my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart.

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

So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

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

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

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

You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

But 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.