Psalms

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

1Truly God is good to Israel — good to people whose hearts are clean.

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

2But as for me, I almost stumbled. My feet nearly slipped out from under me.

3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

3I was jealous of proud, foolish people when I saw how well the wicked were doing.

4For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

4They seem to have no struggle, even when they die. Their bodies stay strong and well fed.

5They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

5They do not carry the troubles other people carry. They are not hurt the way others are.

6Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

6So pride hangs around their necks like a chain. Violence covers them like clothing.

7Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

7They are so well fed that their eyes bulge. They have more than anyone could wish for.

Note"Their eyes stand out with fatness" is an old way of saying they are so rich and well fed that it shows in their faces.

8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

8They are rotten inside. They sneer and talk about crushing others. Every word is proud.

9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

9They speak against heaven itself. Their tongues strut across the whole earth.

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

10So people turn to them, and drink up water from a full cup.

NoteThe Hebrew of this verse is unclear, and translators word it in different ways. It seems to say that people are drawn to the wicked and soak up whatever they offer.

11And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

11They say, "How would God know? Does the Most High know anything at all?"

12Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

12Look at them: these are the wicked. They live without a care, and they keep getting richer.

13Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

13So I thought: I kept my heart clean for nothing. I stayed free of wrong for nothing.

14For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

14Because all day long I suffer. Every morning brings more punishment.

15If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

15If I had talked that way out loud, I would have let down your children, God's whole family.

16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

16I tried hard to understand all this, but thinking about it only wore me out.

17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

17Then I went into God's temple. There I finally understood how it ends for them.

18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

18You are the one who set them on slippery ground. You let them slide down into ruin.

19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

19How suddenly they are wiped out! Terrors sweep them away completely.

20As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

20A dream fades the moment a person wakes up. Lord, when you rise, you brush them aside like that.

21Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

21My heart had turned bitter, and I felt stabbed deep inside.

NoteThe KJV word "reins" means the kidneys. Ancient writers spoke of the kidneys the way we speak of the gut — the place where you feel things most deeply.

22So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

22I was foolish and understood nothing. I was like a dumb animal in front of you.

23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

23Even so, I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand.

24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

24You guide me with your advice, and afterward you will take me into glory.

25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

25Who do I have in heaven but you? And on earth I want no one besides you.

26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

26My body and my heart may give out. But God is the strength of my heart, and he is mine forever.

27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

27Look: people who stay far from you will die. You destroy everyone who turns away from you.

Note"Go a whoring from thee" uses the picture of a husband or wife being unfaithful. It means turning away from God to serve something else.

28But 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.

28But for me, it is good to stay close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my safe place, so I can tell what he has done.