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The Good and the Sinful

¹ For sure God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. ² But as for me, my feet came close to falling. My steps had almost tripped. ³ For I was jealous of the proud when I saw that all was going well with the sinful. ⁴ For they suffer no pain in their death, and their body is fat. ⁵ They do not have the troubles of other men or suffer like other men. ⁶ So they wear pride around their neck. Fighting covers them like a coat. ⁷ They are so fat that their eyes are pushed out. The crazy thoughts of their hearts run wild. ⁸ They laugh at the truth, and speak sinful things about making it hard for others. They speak from a high place. ⁹ They say bad things against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.

¹⁰ And so his people return to this place and drink water from a full cup. ¹¹ They say, "How does God know? Is there much learning with the Most High?"

¹² See, this is what the sinful are like. They always have it easy and their riches grow. ¹³ For no good reason I have kept my heart pure and have not sinned. ¹⁴ For I have suffered all day long. I have been punished every morning.

¹⁵ I would not have been true to Your children if I had spoken this way. ¹⁶ It was too hard for me when I tried to understand this, ¹⁷ until I went into the holy place of God. Then I understood their end. ¹⁸ For sure, You set the sinful in places where there is danger at every step. You throw them down to be destroyed. ¹⁹ How they are destroyed right away! They come to an end with much fear. ²⁰ Like a dream when one wakes up, so You will hate what they look like when You rise up, O Lord.

²¹ My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside. ²² I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You. ²³ Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. ²⁴ You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. ²⁶ My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever. ²⁷ For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You. ²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.