| 1 | Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart. |
| 2 | But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping; |
| 3 | Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers. |
| 4 | For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong. |
| 5 | They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men. |
| 6 | For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe. |
| 7 | Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire. |
| 8 | Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts. |
| 9 | Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth. |
| 10 | For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them. |
| 11 | And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High? |
| 12 | Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased. |
| 13 | As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness; |
| 14 | For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment. |
| 15 | If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children. |
| 16 | When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes; |
| 17 | Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers. |
| 18 | You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction. |
| 19 | How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction. |
| 20 | As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over. |
| 21 | My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief: |
| 22 | As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you. |
| 23 | But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand. |
| 24 | Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour. |
| 25 | Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth. |
| 26 | My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage. |
| 27 | For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you. |
| 28 | But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works. |
