1 T ruly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.

For sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2 B ut as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.

But as for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped.

3 F or I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful.

4 F or there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.

For they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat.

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

They do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men.

6 T herefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.

So they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat.

7 T heir eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.

They are so fat that their eyes are pushed out. The crazy thoughts of their hearts run wild.

8 T hey scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.

They laugh at the truth, and speak sinful things about making it hard for others. They speak from a high place.

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

They say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

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

And so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup.

11 A nd they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?”

They say, “How does God know? Is there much learning with the Most High?”

12 B ehold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.

See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow.

13 S urely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.

For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned.

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

For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.

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

I would not have been true to Your children if I had spoken this way.

16 W hen I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me—

It was too hard for me when I tried to understand this,

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

until I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end.

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

For sure, You set the sinful in places where there is danger at every step. You throw them down to be destroyed.

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

How they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear.

20 A s a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.

Like a dream when one wakes up, so You will hate what they look like when You rise up, O Lord.

21 T hus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.

My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside.

22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You.

23 N evertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.

Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand.

24 Y ou will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

25 W hom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You.

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

My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever.

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

For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You.

28 B ut 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.

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.