1 F or sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

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

3 F or I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful.

4 F or they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat.

5 T hey do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men.

6 S o they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat.

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

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

9 T hey say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

10 A nd so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup.

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

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

13 F or no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned.

14 F or I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.

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

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

17 u ntil I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end.

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

19 H ow they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear.

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

21 M y heart was troubled and I was hurt inside.

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

23 Y et I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand.

24 Y ou 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? I want nothing more on earth, but You.

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

27 F or, 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 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.