1 T ruly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.

Surely God is good to Israel, To those who 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 came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

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

For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.

5 T hey have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like men:

They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.

6 T herefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them a garment;

Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.

7 T heir eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.

8 T hey mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

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

They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

10 T herefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.

Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance are drunk by them.

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

They say, “ How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

12 B ehold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

13 T ruly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

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

For I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning.

15 I f I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.

If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16 W hen I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight

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

Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

18 T ruly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

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

19 H ow are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

20 A s a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.

21 W hen my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

22 T hen I was brutish and knew nothing; I was a beast with thee.

Then I was senseless 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 have taken hold of my right hand.

24 T hou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

Whom have I in heaven but You ? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

26 M y flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 F or behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

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

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.