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1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
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<<A Psalm by Asaph.>> Surely God is good to Israel, 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, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I envied the arrogant 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 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
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For there are no struggles 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 free from burdens of 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 like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
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Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
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. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
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Therefore their people return to them, And they drink up waters of abundance.
11 They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
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They say, "How does God know? 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. Being always 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 I have cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocence,
14 All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
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For all day long have I been plagued, And punished 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 would have betrayed the 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 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 entered God's sanctuary, And considered their latter end.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
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Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
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How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away 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 wakes up, So, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
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For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
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I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
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Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held 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 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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Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides 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 flesh and my heart fails, But God is the strength of my heart 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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For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed 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 it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, That I may tell of all your works.