Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 (72-1) <A psalm for Asaph.> How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
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Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.
2 (72-2) But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
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But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
3 (72-3) Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
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For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
4 (72-4) For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
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They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
5 (72-5) They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
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They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
6 (72-6) Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
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They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.
7 (72-7) Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
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These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!
8 (72-8) They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
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They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
9 (72-9) They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
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They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
10 (72-10) Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
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And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
11 (72-11) And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
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“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
12 (72-12) Behold these are sinners; and yet, abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
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Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.
13 (72-13) And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
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Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
14 (72-14) And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
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I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.
15 (72-15) If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
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If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.
16 (72-16) I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
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So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
17 (72-17) Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
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Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
18 (72-18) But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
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Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
19 (72-19) How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
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In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.
20 (72-20) As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
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When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.
21 (72-21) For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
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Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.
22 (72-22) And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
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I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
23 (72-23) I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
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Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.
24 (72-24) Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
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You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
25 (72-25) For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
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Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.
26 (72-26) For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
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My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
27 (72-27) For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
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Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.
28 (72-28) But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
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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.