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

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

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

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

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

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

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

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

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

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

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

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

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

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

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

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

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

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

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

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

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

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

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

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

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

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

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

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

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

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

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

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

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

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I 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.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

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

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

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

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

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

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

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

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

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

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden 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.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You.

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

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

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

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.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

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.

But 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.