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

Surely 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.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly 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 of the arrogant, 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 struggles 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 free from burdens of 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 is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

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

Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

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

They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

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

They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

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

Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

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

They say, “How does God know? 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 wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

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

Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,

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

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

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

If I had said, “I will speak thus”; behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

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

When I tried to understand 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 entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter 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 you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

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

How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away 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 wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

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

For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

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

I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

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

Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held 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.

You will guide me with your 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 do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

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 fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion 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.

For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful 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.

But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.