Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.
1
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had well nigh slipped.
2
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
3
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pangs; their bodies are sound and sleek.
4
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are not in trouble as other men are; they are not stricken like other men.
5
They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
6
Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 Their eyes swell out with fatness, their hearts overflow with follies.
7
From their callous hearts comes iniquity ; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
8
They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
9
Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore the people turn and praise them; and find no fault in them.
10
Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
11 And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
11
They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
12
This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
13
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long I have been stricken, and chastened every morning.
14
All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have been untrue to the generation of thy children.
15
If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
16
When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.
17
till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Truly thou dost set them in slippery places; thou dost make them fall to ruin.
18
Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
19
How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes, on awaking you despise their phantoms.
20
They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
21
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was stupid and ignorant, I was like a beast toward thee.
22
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee; thou dost hold my right hand.
23
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 Thou dost guide me with thy counsel, and afterward thou wilt receive me to glory.
24
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides thee.
25
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For lo, those who are far from thee shall perish; thou dost put an end to those who are false to thee.
27
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all thy works.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.