GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 God is truly good to Israel, to those whose lives are pure.
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Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But my feet had almost stumbled. They had almost slipped
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But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
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For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They suffer no pain. Their bodies are healthy.
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They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people. They are not plagued [with problems] like others.
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They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace and acts of violence like clothing.
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Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Their eyes peer out from their fat faces, and their imaginations run wild.
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From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They ridicule. They speak maliciously. They speak arrogantly about oppression.
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They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They verbally attack heaven, and they order people around on earth.
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Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 That is why God's people turn to wickedness and swallow their words.
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Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 Then wicked people ask, "What does God know?" "Does the Most High know anything?"
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They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12 Look how wicked they are! They never have a worry. They grow more and more wealthy.
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This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 I've received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame.
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Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 I'm plagued [with problems] all day long, and every morning my punishment [begins again].
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All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had said, "I will continue to talk like that," I would have betrayed God's people.
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If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 But when I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me.
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When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 Only when I came into God's holy place did I [finally] understand what would happen to them.
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till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin.
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Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 They are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away by terror!
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How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 As [someone] gets rid of a dream when he wakes up, so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them when you wake up.
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They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized [with envy],
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When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
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I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet, I am always with you. You hold on to my right hand.
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Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 With your advice you guide me, and in the end you will take me to glory.
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You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 As long as I have you, I don't need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
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Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance 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 Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die. You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
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Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 Being united with God is my highest good. I have made the Almighty LORD my refuge so that I may report everything that he has done.
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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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.