1 ¶ Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.

Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure 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 at the arrogant, seeing 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 have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

5 T hey are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like men:

6 T herefore they are crowned with pride; they cover themselves with violence as a garment.

Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them a garment;

7 T heir eyes stand out with fatness; they easily obtain the desires of their heart.

Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

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

They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

9 T hey set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh 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 turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.

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

And they say, How can God know, and 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 wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

13 V erily, in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency

Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

14 a nd been plagued all day long and chastened every morning:

For all the day have I been 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

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 are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, 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, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

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

When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

22 B ut I was ignorant and did not understand; I was as a beast before thee.

Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was a beast with thee.

23 N evertheless I was continually with thee; thou hast apprehended me by my right hand.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;

24 T hou hast guided me with thy counsel, and afterward thou shalt receive me unto glory.

Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

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 the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

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 faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

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

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 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.