1 S urely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

Surely God is good to Israel, Even to such as are pure in heart.

2 B ut as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

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

3 F or I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

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

4 F or there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat.

For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.

5 T hey are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind.

They are not in trouble as other men; Neither are they plagued like other men.

6 T herefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.

Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

7 T heir eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.

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

They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.

9 T hey have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

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

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

Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

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

And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?

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

Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.

13 S urely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;

14 F or I have been stricken all day long And chastened every morning.

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

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

If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.

16 W hen I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight

When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;

17 U ntil I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.

18 S urely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.

Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.

19 H ow they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

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

20 L ike a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.

As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.

21 W hen my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:

22 T hen I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was as a beast before thee.

23 N evertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.

24 W ith Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom have I in heaven but You ? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

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

My flesh and my heart faileth; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

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

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.

28 B ut 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.

But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.