Study Desk

God certainly is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pains in their death, And their belly is fat.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble like other people, Nor are they tormented together with the rest of mankind.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore arrogance is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of their heart overflow.

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high.

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Therefore his people return here, And abundant waters are drunk by them.

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

They say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?"

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure And washed my hands in innocence;

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For I have been stricken all day long, And punished every morning.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

If I had said, "I will speak this way," Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

When I thought of understanding this, It was troublesome in my sight

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Until I entered the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

You indeed put them on slippery ground; You dropped them into ruin.

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Like a dream when one awakes, Lord, when stirred, You will despise their image.

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

When my heart was embittered And I was pierced within,

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Then I was stupid and ignorant; I was like an animal before You.

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

You will guide me with Your plan, And afterward receive me to glory.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with You, I desire nothing on earth.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.

For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God , that I may declare all thy works.