The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 A psalm of Asaf: How good God is to Isra'el, to those who are pure in heart!
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Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, I lost my balance, my feet nearly slipped,
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But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 when I grew envious of the arrogant and saw how the wicked prosper.
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For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For when their death comes, it is painless; and meanwhile, their bodies are healthy;
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For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 they don't have ordinary people's troubles, they aren't plagued like others.
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They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 So for them, pride is a necklace; and violence clothes them like a robe.
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Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes peep out through folds of fat; evil thoughts overflow from their hearts.
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Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak with malice, they loftily utter threats.
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They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouths against heaven; their tongues swagger through the earth.
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They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return here and [thoughtlessly] suck up that whole cup of water.
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Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 Then they ask, "How does God know? Does the Most High really have knowledge?"
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And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Yes, this is what the wicked are like; those free of misfortune keep increasing their wealth.
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Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 It's all for nothing that I've kept my heart clean and washed my hands, staying free of guilt;
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Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 for all day long I am plagued; my punishment comes every morning.
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For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, "I will talk like them,"I would have betrayed a generation of your children.
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If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, I found it too hard for me -
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When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 until I went into the sanctuaries of God and grasped what their destiny would be.
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Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Indeed, you place them on a slippery slope and make them fall to their ruin.
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Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How suddenly they are destroyed, swept away by terrors!
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How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 They are like a dream when one awakens; Adonai, when you rouse yourself, you will despise their phantoms.
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As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 When I had a sour attitude and felt stung by pained emotions,
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Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 I was too stupid to understand; I was like a brute beast with you.
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So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with your advice; and afterwards, you will receive me with honor.
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Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? And with you, I lack nothing on earth.
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Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My mind and body may fail; but God is the rock for my mind and my portion forever.
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My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who adulterously leave you.
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For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made Adonai ELOHIM my refuge, so that I can tell of all your works.
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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 thy works.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.