Read the Bible

¹ God is so good to Israel,
    to those whose hearts are pure.
² But I almost slipped and lost my balance.
    I almost fell into sin.
³ I saw that wicked people were successful,
    and I became jealous of those proud people.
⁴ They are healthy.
    They don't have to struggle to survive.^[a]
5 They don't suffer like the rest of us.
    They don't have troubles like other people.
⁶ So they are proud and hateful.
    This is as easy to see as the jewels and fancy clothes they wear.
⁷ If they see something they like, they go and take it.
    They do whatever they want.
⁸ They make fun of others and say cruel things about them.
    In their pride they make plans to hurt people.
⁹ They think they are gods!
    They think they are the rulers of the earth.
^10 [b] Even God's people turn to them
    and do what they say.
¹¹ Those evil people say, "God does not know what we are doing!
    God Most High does not know!"

¹² Those proud people are wicked,
    but they are rich and getting richer.
¹³ Clearly, then, I gain nothing by keeping my thoughts pure!
    What good is it to keep myself from sin?
¹⁴ God, I suffer all day long,
    and you punish me every morning.

¹⁵ I wanted to tell others these things,
    but that would have made me a traitor to your people.
¹⁶ I tried hard to understand all this,
    but it was too hard for me.
¹⁷ But then, God, I went to your Temple,
    and I understood what will happen to the wicked.
¹⁸ Clearly, you have put them in danger.
    You make it easy for them to fall and be destroyed.
¹⁹ Trouble can come suddenly,
    and they will be ruined.
Terrible things can happen to them,
    and they will be finished.
²⁰ Then they will be like a dream
    that we forget when we wake up.
You will make them disappear
    like the monsters in our dreams.^21-22 I was so stupid.
    I thought about such people and became upset.
God, I was upset and angry with you!
    I acted like a senseless animal.<
²³ But I am always with you.
    You hold my hand.
²⁴ You lead me and give me good advice,
    and later you will lead me to glory.^[c]
25 In heaven, God, I have only you.
    And if I am with you, what on earth could I want?
²⁶ Maybe my mind^[d] and body will become weak,
    but God is my source of strength.^[e]
    He is mine forever!
²⁷ God, people who leave you will be lost.
    You will destroy all who are not faithful to you.
²⁸ As for me, all I need is to be close to God.
    I have made the Lord God my place of safety.
    And, God, I will tell about all that you have done.