¹ Truly God is good to Israel,
Even to such as are of a clean heart.
² But as for me, my feet were almost gone;
My steps had well nigh slipped.
³ For I was envious at the foolish,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
⁴ For there are no bands in their death:
But their strength is firm.
⁵ They are not in trouble as other men;
Neither are they plagued like other men.

⁶ Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain;
Violence covereth them as a garment.
⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness:
They have more than heart could wish.
⁸ They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression:
They speak loftily.
⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue walketh through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore his people return hither:
And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

¹¹ And they say, How doth God know?
And is there knowledge in the most High?
¹² Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
¹³ Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
¹⁴ For all the day long have I been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
¹⁵ If I say, I will speak thus;
Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

¹⁶ When I thought to know this,
It was too painful for me;
¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then understood I their end.
¹⁸ Surely thou didst set them in slippery places:
Thou castedst them down into destruction.
¹⁹ How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
²⁰ As a dream when one awaketh;
So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

²¹ Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was pricked in my reins.
²² So foolish was I, and ignorant:
I was as a beast before thee.
²³ Nevertheless I am continually with thee:
Thou hast holden me by my right hand.
²⁴ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
²⁶ My flesh and my heart faileth:
But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
²⁷ For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:
Thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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.