New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
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Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are have a pure heart.
2 But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
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But me? My feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped
3 For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
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because I envied the arrogant; I observed how the wicked are well off:
4 They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
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They suffer no pain; their bodies are fit and strong.
5 They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
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They are never in trouble; they aren't weighed down like other people.
6 They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
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That's why they wear arrogance like a necklace, why violence covers them like clothes.
7 These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
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Their eyes bulge out from eating so well; their hearts overflow with delusions.
8 They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
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They scoff and talk so cruel; from their privileged positions they plan oppression.
9 They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
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Their mouths dare to speak against heaven! Their tongues roam the earth!
10 And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
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That's why people keep going back to them, keep approving what they say.
11 “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
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And what they say is this: "How could God possibly know! Does the Most High know anything at all!"
12 Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
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Look at these wicked ones, always relaxed, piling up the wealth!
13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
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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 I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
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I'm weighed down all day long. I'm punished every morning.
15 If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
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If I said, "I will talk about all this," I would have been unfaithful to your children.
16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
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But when I tried to understand these things, it just seemed like hard work
17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
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until I entered God's sanctuary and understood what would happen to the wicked.
18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
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You will definitely put them on a slippery path; you will make them fall into ruin!
19 In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
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How quickly they are devastated, utterly destroyed by terrors!
20 When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
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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 Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
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When my heart was bitter, when I was all cut up inside,
22 I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
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I was stupid and ignorant. I acted like nothing but an animal toward you.
23 Yet I still belong to you; you hold 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, leading me to a glorious destiny.
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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? I desire you more than anything on earth.
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Do I have anyone else in heaven? There's nothing on earth I desire except you.
26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine 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 desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon 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, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
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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!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible