GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 God is truly good to Israel, to those whose lives are pure.
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A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as 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 stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped.
3 because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
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For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They suffer no pain. Their bodies are healthy.
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For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm.
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 not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men.
6 That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace and acts of violence like clothing.
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Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes peer out from their fat faces, and their imaginations run wild.
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Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish.
8 They ridicule. They speak maliciously. They speak arrogantly about oppression.
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They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily.
9 They verbally attack heaven, and they order people around on earth.
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They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth.
10 That is why God's people turn to wickedness and swallow their words.
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Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 Then wicked people ask, "What does God know?" "Does the Most High know anything?"
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And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Look how wicked they are! They never have a worry. They grow more and more wealthy.
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Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches.
13 I've received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame.
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Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And 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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For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning.
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 said, "I will speak thus," Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.
16 But when I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me.
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When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me--
17 Only when I came into God's holy place did I [finally] understand what would happen to them.
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Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.
18 You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin.
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Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction.
19 They are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away by terror!
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Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with 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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As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image.
21 When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized [with envy],
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Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
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I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
23 Yet, I am always with you. You hold on to my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually 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 will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to 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 there is none upon earth that 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 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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For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
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 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.