1 Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

3 Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

4 For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

5 They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

6 For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

7 Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

8 Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

9 Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

10 For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

11 And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

13 As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

14 For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

15 If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

16 When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

17 Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

18 You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

19 How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

20 As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

21 My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

22 As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

23 But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

24 Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

26 My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

27 For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

28 But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.

1 Surely God is good to Israel,

to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone.

My steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant,

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no struggles in their death,

but their strength is firm.

5 They are free from burdens of men,

neither are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck.

Violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes bulge with fat.

Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

8 They scoff and speak with malice.

In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

9 They have set their mouth in the heavens.

Their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore their people return to them,

and they drink up waters of abundance.

11 They say, "How does God know?

Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

12 Behold, these are the wicked.

Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

and washed my hands in innocence,

14 For all day long I have been plagued,

and punished every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus",

behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 When I tried to understand this,

it was too painful for me—

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary,

and considered their latter end.

18 Surely you set them in slippery places.

You throw them down to destruction.

19 How they are suddenly destroyed!

They are completely swept away with terrors.

20 As a dream when one wakes up,

so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

21 For 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 Nevertheless, I am continually with you.

You have held my right hand.

24 You will guide me with your counsel,

and afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom do I have in heaven?

There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart fails,

but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish.

You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

28 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.