| New King James Version | New Living Translation |
| 1A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. | 1Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. |
| 2But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. | 2But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. |
| 3For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked. | 3For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. |
| 4For there are no pangs in their death, But their strength is firm. | 4They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. |
| 5They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like other men. | 5They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. |
| 6Therefore pride serves as their necklace; Violence covers them like a garment. | 6They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. |
| 7Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish. | 7These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! |
| 8They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; They speak loftily. | 8They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. |
| 9They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walks through the earth. | 9They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. |
| 10Therefore his people return here, And waters of a full cup are drained by them. | 10And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. |
| 11And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?” | 11“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” |
| 12Behold, these are the ungodly, Who are always at ease; They increase in riches. | 12Look at these wicked people— enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. |
| 13Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, And washed my hands in innocence. | 13Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? |
| 14For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning. | 14I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain. |
| 15If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children. | 15If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. |
| 16When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— | 16So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! |
| 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end. | 17Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. |
| 18Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. | 18Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. |
| 19Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. | 19In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. |
| 20As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image. | 20When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. |
| 21Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. | 21Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. |
| 22I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. | 22I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. |
| 23Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. | 23Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. |
| 24You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. | 24You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. |
| 25Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. | 25Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. |
| 26My flesh and my heart 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. |
| 27For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. | 27Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. |
| 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 Your works. | 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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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