New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
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A psalm of Asaf: How good God is to Isra'el, to those who 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, I lost my balance, my feet nearly slipped,
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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when I grew envious of the arrogant and saw how the wicked prosper.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
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For when their death comes, it is painless; and meanwhile, their bodies are healthy;
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
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they don't have ordinary people's troubles, they aren't plagued like others.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
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So for them, pride is a necklace; and violence clothes them like a robe.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
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Their eyes peep out through folds of fat; evil thoughts overflow from their hearts.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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They scoff and speak with malice, they loftily utter threats.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
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They set their mouths against heaven; their tongues swagger through the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
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Therefore his people return here and [thoughtlessly] suck up that whole cup of water.
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
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Then they ask, "How does God know? Does the Most High really have knowledge?"
12 This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
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Yes, this is what the wicked are like; those free of misfortune keep increasing their wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
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It's all for nothing that I've kept my heart clean and washed my hands, staying free of guilt;
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
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for all day long I am plagued; my punishment comes 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 talk like them,"I would have betrayed a generation of your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
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When I tried to understand all this, I found it too hard 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 sanctuaries of God and grasped what their destiny would be.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
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Indeed, you place them on a slippery slope and make them fall to their ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
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How suddenly they are destroyed, swept away 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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They are like a dream when one awakens; Adonai, when you rouse yourself, you will despise their phantoms.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
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When I had a sour attitude and felt stung by pained emotions,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
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I was too stupid to understand; I was like a brute beast with you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
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Nevertheless, I am always with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
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You will guide me with your advice; and afterwards, you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
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Whom do I have in heaven but you? And with you, I lack nothing 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 mind and body may fail; but God is the rock for my mind and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
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Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who adulterously leave 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 for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made Adonai ELOHIM my refuge, so that I can tell of all your 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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.