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

¶ Truly 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.

But as for me, my feet almost departed from the way; my steps had almost slipped.

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

For I became angry against the foolish when I saw the peace of the wicked.

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

Because there is no restraint that would bring about 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 plagued like other men.

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

Therefore they are crowned with pride; they cover themselves with violence as a garment.

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

Their eyes stand out with fatness; they easily obtain the desires of their heart.

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

They are lawless and speak wickedly of doing violence; they speak loftily.

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

They set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

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

Therefore his people shall return here; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to 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? and 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 ungodly men, without being troubled by the world obtain riches.

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

Verily, 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.

and been plagued all day long 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.

¶ If I should say, I will speak as they do; behold, I should deny the generation of thy sons.

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

I shall meditate that I might understand this; it is very hard for me to see.

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

When I come into the sanctuary of God, then I shall understand their end.

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

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; in desolation thou shalt cause them to fall.

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

How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; 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 the dream of one who awakes; so, O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.

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

¶ Truly my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my kidneys.

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

But I was ignorant and did not understand; I was as a beast before thee.

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

Nevertheless I was continually with thee; thou hast apprehended me by my right hand.

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

Thou hast guided me with thy counsel, and afterward thou shalt receive me unto 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 thee? And apart from thee there is nothing upon the earth that I desire.

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 fail; the strength of my heart is that God is 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.

For, behold, those that stray from thee shall perish; thou dost cut off all those that go a whoring 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.

But as for me, to draw near to God is good; I have put my hope in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.