Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 <<A Psalm of Asaph.>> Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
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God is truly good to Israel, to those whose lives are pure.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
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But my feet had almost stumbled. They had almost slipped
3 For I was envious of the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
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because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
4 For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm.
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They suffer no pain. Their bodies are healthy.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
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They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people. They are not plagued [with problems] like others.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
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That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace and acts of violence like clothing.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.
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Their eyes peer out from their fat faces, and their imaginations run wild.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily.
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They ridicule. They speak maliciously. They speak arrogantly about oppression.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
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They verbally attack heaven, and they order people around on earth.
10 Therefore His people return hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
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That is why God's people turn to wickedness and swallow their words.
11 And they say, "How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?"
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Then wicked people ask, "What does God know?" "Does the Most High know anything?"
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
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Look how wicked they are! They never have a worry. They grow more and more wealthy.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence.
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I've received no reward for keeping my life pure and washing my hands of any blame.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.
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I'm plagued [with problems] all day long, and every morning my punishment [begins again].
15 If I say, "I will speak thus," behold, I should offend against the generation of Thy children.
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If I had said, "I will continue to talk like that," I would have betrayed God's people.
16 When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me,
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But when I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me.
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then understood I their end:
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Only when I came into God's holy place did I [finally] understand what would happen to them.
18 surely Thou didst set them in slippery places. Thou didst cast them down into destruction!
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You put them in slippery places and make them fall into ruin.
19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!
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They are suddenly destroyed. They are completely swept away by terror!
20 As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image.
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As [someone] gets rid of a dream when he wakes up, so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them when you wake up.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
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When my heart was filled with bitterness and my mind was seized [with envy],
22 So foolish was I and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
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I was stupid, and I did not understand. I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast held me by my right hand.
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Yet, I am always with you. You hold on to my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory.
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With your advice you guide me, and in the end you will take me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.
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As long as I have you, I don't need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
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My body and mind may waste away, but God remains the foundation of my life and my inheritance forever.
27 For lo, they that are far from Thee shall perish; Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from Thee.
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Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die. You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Thy works.
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Being united with God is my highest good. I have made the Almighty LORD my refuge so that I may report everything that he has done.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.