New King James Version NKJV
New International Version NIV
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.
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Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.
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But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.
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They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.
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They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.
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Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.
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From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.
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They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.
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Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
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Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
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They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.
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This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
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Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.
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All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
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If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--
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When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.
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till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
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Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
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How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.
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They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
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When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
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I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand.
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Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
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You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
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Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
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My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
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Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 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 Your works.
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But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.