1 T ruly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure 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 at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

For I was envious of the boastful, When 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 pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.

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 other men.

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

Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.

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

Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.

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

They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.

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

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

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

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

11 A nd they say, How can 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 they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.

13 T ruly have I purified my heart in vain, 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 have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

For all day long I have been plagued, 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 been untrue to 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 thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me—

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

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood 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.

Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.

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

As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

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

Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.

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

I was so foolish 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 hold me by my right hand.

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

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

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

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 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.