1 ¶ Truly 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 almost departed from the way; my steps had almost slipped.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well-nigh slipped.

3 F or I became angry against the foolish when I saw the peace of the wicked.

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

4 B ecause there is no restraint that would bring about 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 they are crowned with pride; they cover themselves with violence 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 easily obtain the desires of their heart.

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

8 T hey are lawless and speak wickedly of doing violence; they speak loftily.

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

9 T hey set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walks 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 shall return here; and waters of a full cup 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 does 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 ungodly men, without being troubled by the world obtain riches.

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

13 V erily, 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 a nd been plagued all day long and chastened every morning:

For all the day long have I been smitten and plagued, and chastened every morning.

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

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

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

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

17 W hen I come into the sanctuary of God, then I shall understand their end.

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

18 S urely thou didst set them in slippery places; in desolation thou shalt cause them to fall.

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

19 H ow they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; they are utterly consumed with terrors.

How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!

20 A s the dream of one who awakes; so, O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.

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

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

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

22 B ut I was ignorant and did not understand; 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 was continually with thee; thou hast apprehended me by my right hand.

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

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

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 fail; the strength of my heart is that God is 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, behold, those that stray from thee shall perish; thou dost cut off all those that go a whoring 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 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.

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.