1. - How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2. But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3. For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4. For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and they have firmness under their affliction.
5. They are not in the troubles of other men; and they shall not be scourged with other men.
6. Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7. Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8. They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9. They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10. Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found [Gr. in] with them.
11. And they said, How does God know? and [Gr. if there is] is there knowledge in the Most High?
12. Behold, these are the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13. And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14. For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof was every morning.
15. If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I should have broken covenant with the generation of thy children.
16. And I undertook to understand this, but it is too hard for me,
17. until I go into the sanctuary of God; and so understand the latter end.
18. Surely thou hast appointed judgements to them because of their crafty dealings: thou hast cast them down when they were lifted up.
19. How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20. As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in thy city thou wilt despise their image.
21. For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been [Gr. changed] gladdened.
22. But I was vile and knew not: I became brutish before thee.
23. Yet I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand.
24. Thou hast guided me by thy counsel, and thou hast taken me to thyself with glory.
25. For what have I in heaven but thee? and what have I desired upon the earth beside thee?
26. My heart and my flesh have failed: but God is the strength of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27. For, behold, they that remove themselves far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed every one that goes a whoring from thee.
28. But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.