New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
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Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean 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 had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
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For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.
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 others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
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For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
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Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
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Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
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For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
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And they say, How will the Lord see this? 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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Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
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As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
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For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
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If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
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When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
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Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
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You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
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How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.
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 is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
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My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
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As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
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But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
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Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.
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 you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.
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 are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
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For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.
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 come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his 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 Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.