1
Truly God is good to the upright, 1
to those who are pure in heart.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped.
3
For I was envious of the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4
For they have no pain;
their bodies are sound and sleek.
5
They are not in trouble as others are;
they are not plagued like other people.
6
Therefore pride is their necklace;
violence covers them like a garment.
7
Their eyes swell out with fatness;
their hearts overflow with follies.
8
They scoff and speak with malice;
loftily they threaten oppression.
9
They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues range over the earth.
10
Therefore the people turn and praise them, 2
and find no fault in them. 3
11
And they say, "How can God know?
Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12
Such are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase in riches.
13
All in vain I have kept my heart clean
and washed my hands in innocence.
14
For all day long I have been plagued,
and am punished every morning.
15
If I had said, "I will talk on in this way,"
I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16
But when I thought how to understand this,
it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
then I perceived their end.
18
Truly you set them in slippery places;
you make them fall to ruin.
19
How they are destroyed in a moment,
swept away utterly by terrors!
20
They are 4 like a dream when one awakes;
on awaking you despise their phantoms.
21
When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22
I was stupid and ignorant;
I was like a brute beast toward you.
23
Nevertheless I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me with honor. 5
25
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength 6 of my heart and my portion forever.
27
Indeed, those who are far from you will perish;
you put an end to those who are false to you.
28
But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord
to tell of all your works.