² But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;^(B)
    I had nearly lost my foothold.^(C)
3 For I envied^(D) the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.^(E)

⁴ They have no struggles;
    their bodies are healthy and strong.^[a]
5 They are free^(F) from common human burdens;
    they are not plagued by human ills.
⁶ Therefore pride^(G) is their necklace;^(H)
    they clothe themselves with violence.^(I)
7 From their callous hearts^(J) comes iniquity^[b];
    their evil imaginations have no limits.
⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;^(K)
    with arrogance^(L) they threaten oppression.^(M)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[c]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,^(N) they go on amassing wealth.^(O)

¹³ Surely in vain^(P) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.^(Q)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,^(R)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand^(S) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary^(T) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.^(U)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(V)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(W)
19 How suddenly^(X) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(Y) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(Z) when one awakes;^(AA)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(AB)

²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless^(AC) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast^(AD) before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(AE)
24 You guide^(AF) me with your counsel,^(AG)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?^(AH)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(AI)
26 My flesh and my heart^(AJ) may fail,^(AK)
    but God is the strength^(AL) of my heart
    and my portion^(AM) forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;^(AN)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(AO) to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(AP)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(AQ)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(AR)

³ My enemies turn back;
    they stumble and perish before you.
⁴ For you have upheld my right^(F) and my cause,^(G)
    sitting enthroned^(H) as the righteous judge.^(I)
5 You have rebuked the nations^(J) and destroyed the wicked;
    you have blotted out their name^(K) for ever and ever.
⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
    you have uprooted their cities;^(L)
    even the memory of them^(M) has perished.

⁷ The Lord reigns forever;^(N)
    he has established his throne^(O) for judgment.
⁸ He rules the world in righteousness^(P)
    and judges the peoples with equity.^(Q)
9 The Lord is a refuge^(R) for the oppressed,^(S)
    a stronghold in times of trouble.^(T)
10 Those who know your name^(U) trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken^(V) those who seek you.^(W)

¹¹ Sing the praises^(X) of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;^(Y)
    proclaim among the nations^(Z) what he has done.^(AA)
12 For he who avenges blood^(AB) remembers;
    he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.^(AC)

¹³ Lord, see how my enemies^(AD) persecute me!
    Have mercy^(AE) and lift me up from the gates of death,^(AF)
14 that I may declare your praises^(AG)
    in the gates of Daughter Zion,^(AH)
    and there rejoice in your salvation.^(AI)

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;^(AJ)
    their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.^(AK)
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
    the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.^[c](AL)
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,^(AM)
    all the nations that forget God.^(AN)
18 But God will never forget the needy;
    the hope^(AO) of the afflicted^(AP) will never perish.

¹⁹ Arise,^(AQ) Lord, do not let mortals triumph;^(AR)
    let the nations be judged^(AS) in your presence.
²⁰ Strike them with terror,^(AT) Lord;
    let the nations know they are only mortal.^(AU)