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¹ Truly, God is good to Israel, even to such as are clean in heart.² But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;³ Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.⁴ For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.⁵ They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.⁶ For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.⁷ Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.⁸ Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.⁹ Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.¹⁰ For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.¹¹ And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?¹² Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.¹³ As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;¹⁴ For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

¹⁵ If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.¹⁶ When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;¹⁷ Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.¹⁸ You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.¹⁹ How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.²⁰ As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

²¹ My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:²² As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.²³ But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.²⁴ Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.²⁶ My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.²⁷ For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.²⁸ But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.