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 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land^(E) and enjoy safe pasture.^(F)
4 Take delight^(G) in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.^(H)

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him^(I) and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward^(J) shine like the dawn,^(K)
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still^(L) before the Lord
    and wait patiently^(M) for him;
do not fret^(N) when people succeed in their ways,^(O)
    when they carry out their wicked schemes.^(P)

⁸ Refrain from anger^(Q) and turn from wrath;
    do not fret^(R)—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,^(S)
    but those who hope^(T) in the Lord will inherit the land.^(U)

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;^(V)
    though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land^(W)
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.^(X)

¹² The wicked plot^(Y) against the righteous
    and gnash their teeth^(Z) at them;
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he knows their day is coming.^(AA)

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword^(AB)
    and bend the bow^(AC)
to bring down the poor and needy,^(AD)
    to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,^(AE)
    and their bows will be broken.^(AF)

¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth^(AG) of many wicked;
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,^(AH)
    but the Lord upholds^(AI) the righteous.

¹⁸ The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,^(AJ)
    and their inheritance will endure forever.^(AK)
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish:^(AL)
    Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
    they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.^(AM)

²¹ The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;^(AN)
22 those the Lord blesses will inherit the land,
    but those he curses^(AO) will be destroyed.^(AP)

²³ The Lord makes firm the steps^(AQ)
    of the one who delights^(AR) in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,^(AS)
    for the Lord upholds^(AT) him with his hand.

²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken^(AU)
    or their children begging^(AV) bread.
²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;^(AW)
    their children will be a blessing.^[b](AX)

²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;^(AY)
    then you will dwell in the land forever.^(AZ)
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.^(BA)

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed^[c];
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.^(BB)
29 The righteous will inherit the land^(BC)
    and dwell in it forever.^(BD)

³⁰ The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,^(BE)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
³¹ The law of their God is in their hearts;^(BF)
    their feet do not slip.^(BG)

³² The wicked lie in wait^(BH) for the righteous,^(BI)
    intent on putting them to death;
³³ but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked
    or let them be condemned^(BJ) when brought to trial.^(BK)

³⁴ Hope in the Lord^(BL)
    and keep his way.^(BM)
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
    when the wicked are destroyed,^(BN) you will see^(BO) it.

³⁵ I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
    flourishing^(BP) like a luxuriant native tree,
³⁶ but he soon passed away and was no more;
    though I looked for him, he could not be found.^(BQ)

³⁷ Consider the blameless,^(BR) observe the upright;^(BS)
    a future awaits those who seek peace.^[d](BT)
38 But all sinners^(BU) will be destroyed;^(BV)
    there will be no future^[e] for the wicked.^(BW)

³⁹ The salvation^(BX) of the righteous comes from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.^(BY)
40 The Lord helps^(BZ) them and delivers^(CA) them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves^(CB) them,
    because they take refuge^(CC) in him.