Berean Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

1Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.

2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.

4For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.

5They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

5They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

6Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.

7From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

7Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

8They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.

8They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.

9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.

9They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.

10So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.

10Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.

11The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

11And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.

12Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.

13All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

14For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.

14For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

15If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.

15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

16When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight

16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.

17until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

18Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.

18Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.

19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

19How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

20Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

20Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

21When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,

21When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,

22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.

22I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.

23Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

23Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.

24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.

25Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

27For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

28But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

28But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

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ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.