New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
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Surely God is good to Israel, [Even] to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
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But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
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For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
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They are not in trouble as [other] men; Neither are they plagued like [other] men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
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Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
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Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
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They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
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Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them.
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
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And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
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Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
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Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
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For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
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If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
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When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
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Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
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Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
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How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
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As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
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For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
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So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
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Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
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Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
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Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart 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 are unfaithful to you.
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For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
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But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.