The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
1 A psalm of Asaf: How good God is to Isra'el, to those who are pure in heart!
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A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, I lost my balance, my feet nearly slipped,
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But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.
3 when I grew envious of the arrogant and saw how the wicked prosper.
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For I was envious of the boastful, 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 pangs 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, Nor 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 serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes peep out through folds of fat; evil thoughts overflow from their hearts.
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Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff and speak with malice, they loftily utter threats.
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They scoff 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 walks 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 here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 Then they ask, "How does God know? Does the Most High really have knowledge?"
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And they say, "How does 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 are always at ease; 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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Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence.
14 for all day long I am plagued; my punishment comes every morning.
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For all day long I have 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 had said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, I found it too hard for me -
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When I thought how to understand 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 I understood their end.
18 Indeed, you place them on a slippery slope and make them fall to their ruin.
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Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly they are destroyed, swept away by terrors!
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Oh, how they are brought to 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 awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall 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 vexed in my mind.
22 I was too stupid to understand; I was like a brute beast with you.
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I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless, I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold 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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You will guide me with Your 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 You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
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 fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who adulterously leave you.
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For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
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 Your works.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.