King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
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A Psalm of Asaph. 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 well nigh 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, when 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 pangs; 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 other men are; they are not stricken like other men.
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 as 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 the heavens, and their tongue struts through 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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Behold, these 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 have I 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 the day long I have been stricken, and chastened 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 speak thus," I would have been untrue to the generation of thy 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 thou dost set them in slippery places; thou dost 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 beast toward thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou dost hold my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
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Thou dost guide me with thy counsel, and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory.
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 thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.
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 for ever.
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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For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee.
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, that I may tell of all thy works.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.