| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 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 whose hearts are pure. |
| 2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. | 2But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. |
| 3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. | 3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. |
| 4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. | 4They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. |
| 5They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. | 5They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. |
| 6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. | 6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. |
| 7From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. | 7These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! |
| 8They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. | 8They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. |
| 9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. | 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. |
| 10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. | 10And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. |
| 11They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?" | 11“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” |
| 12This is what the wicked are like-- always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. | 12Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. |
| 13Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. | 13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? |
| 14All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. | 14I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. |
| 15If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. | 15If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. |
| 16When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply | 16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! |
| 17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. | 17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. |
| 18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. | 18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. |
| 19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! | 19In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. |
| 20They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. | 20When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. |
| 21When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, | 21Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. |
| 22I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. | 22I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. |
| 23Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. | 23Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. |
| 24You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. | 24You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. |
| 25Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. | 25Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. |
| 26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. | 26My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. |
| 27Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. | 27Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. |
| 28But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. | 28But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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