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

Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.

2 B ut as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

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

3 F or I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or there are no bands in 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 pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them 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 have more than heart could wish.

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

8 T hey are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

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

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

They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 T herefore his people return hither: 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 doth 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 are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

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

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

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

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

15 I f I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

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

16 W hen I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

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

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

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

18 S urely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

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

19 H ow are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

20 A s a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

21 T hus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

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

22 S o foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

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

23 N evertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

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

24 T hou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to 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 there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

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

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

27 F or, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them 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 it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust 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.