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

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

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

4 F or there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

5 T hey are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

6 T herefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

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

8 T hey scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

9 T hey have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

10 T herefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

11 T hey say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 B ehold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

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

14 F or all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.

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

16 W hen I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

17 U ntil I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

18 S urely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

19 H ow they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

20 A s a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

21 F or my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

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

23 N evertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

24 Y ou will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

25 W hom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

26 M y flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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

28 B ut 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.