New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
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Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are have a pure heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
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But me? My feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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because I envied the arrogant; I observed how the wicked are well off:
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
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They suffer no pain; their bodies are fit and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
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They are never in trouble; they aren't weighed down like other people.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
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That's why they wear arrogance like a necklace, why violence covers them like clothes.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
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Their eyes bulge out from eating so well; their hearts overflow with delusions.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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They scoff and talk so cruel; from their privileged positions they plan oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
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Their mouths dare to speak against heaven! Their tongues roam the earth!
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
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That's why people keep going back to them, keep approving what they say.
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
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And what they say is this: "How could God possibly know! Does the Most High know anything at all!"
12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
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Look at these wicked ones, always relaxed, piling up the wealth!
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
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Meanwhile, I've kept my heart pure for no good reason; I've washed my hands to stay innocent for nothing.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
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I'm weighed down all day long. I'm punished every morning.
15 If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
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If I said, "I will talk about all this," I would have been unfaithful to your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
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But when I tried to understand these things, it just seemed like hard work
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
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until I entered God's sanctuary and understood what would happen to the wicked.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
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You will definitely put them on a slippery path; you will make them fall into ruin!
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
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How quickly they are devastated, utterly destroyed by 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 quickly as a dream departs from someone waking up, my Lord, when you are stirred up, you make them disappear.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
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When my heart was bitter, when I was all cut up inside,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
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I was stupid and ignorant. I acted like nothing but an animal toward you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
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But I was still always with you! You held my strong hand!
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
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You have guided me with your advice; later you will receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
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Do I have anyone else in heaven? There's nothing on earth I desire except you.
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 body and my heart fail, but God is my heart's rock and my share forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
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Look! Those far from you die; you annihilate all those who are unfaithful to 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 me? It's good for me to be near God. I have taken my refuge in you, my LORD God, so I can talk all about your works!
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Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible