Chapter text
World English Bible
Verse-by-verse text with stable anchors, canonical chapter URLs, and copyable verse links.
- 1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
- 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
- 3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- 4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
- 5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
- 6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
- 7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
- 8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
- 9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
- 10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
- 11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
- 12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
- 13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
- 14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
- 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
- 16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
- 17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
- 18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
- 19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
- 20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
- 21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
- 22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
- 23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
- 24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
- 25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
- 26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- 27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
- 28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.