1 T ruly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.

2 B ut as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;

3 F or I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.

4 F or they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;

5 T hey have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like men:

6 T herefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them a garment;

7 T heir eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:

8 T hey mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:

9 T hey set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

10 T herefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.

11 A nd they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?

12 B ehold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.

13 T ruly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:

14 F or all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 I f I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.

16 W hen I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

17 U ntil I went into the sanctuaries of God; understood I their end.

18 T ruly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.

19 H ow are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.

20 A s a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

21 W hen my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,

22 T hen I was brutish and knew nothing; I was a beast with thee.

23 N evertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;

24 T hou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.

25 W hom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.

26 M y flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 F or behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.

28 B ut as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.