King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
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Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
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But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
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For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
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They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
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Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
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Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
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They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
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They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
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Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
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And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
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Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
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All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
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For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
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If I had said, "I will talk on in this way," I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
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But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
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until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
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Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
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How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
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They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
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When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
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I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
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You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
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Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
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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, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false 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 thy works.
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But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.