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 Great^(F) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;^(G)
    his greatness no one can fathom.^(H)
4 One generation^(I) commends your works to another;
    they tell^(J) of your mighty acts.^(K)
5 They speak of the glorious splendor^(L) of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b](M)
6 They tell^(N) of the power of your awesome works—^(O)
    and I will proclaim^(P) your great deeds.^(Q)
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness^(R)
    and joyfully sing^(S) of your righteousness.^(T)

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,^(U)
    slow to anger and rich in love.^(V)

⁹ The Lord is good^(W) to all;
    he has compassion^(X) on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you,^(Y) Lord;
    your faithful people extol^(Z) you.^(AA)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom^(AB)
    and speak of your might,^(AC)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts^(AD)
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.^(AE)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,^(AF)
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy^(AG) in all he promises^(AH)
    and faithful in all he does.^[c]
14 The Lord upholds^(AI) all who fall
    and lifts up all^(AJ) who are bowed down.^(AK)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food^(AL) at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires^(AM) of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous^(AN) in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.^(AO)
18 The Lord is near^(AP) to all who call on him,^(AQ)
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires^(AR) of those who fear him;^(AS)
    he hears their cry^(AT) and saves them.^(AU)
20 The Lord watches over^(AV) all who love him,^(AW)
    but all the wicked he will destroy.^(AX)

²¹ My mouth will speak^(AY) in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature^(AZ) praise his holy name^(BA)
    for ever and ever.

³ “My anger burns against the shepherds,
    and I will punish the leaders;^(H)
for the Lord Almighty will care
    for his flock, the people of Judah,
    and make them like a proud horse in battle.^(I)
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,^(J)
    from him the tent peg,^(K)
from him the battle bow,^(L)
    from him every ruler.
⁵ Together they^[a] will be like warriors in battle
    trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.^(M)
They will fight because the Lord is with them,
    and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.^(N)

⁶ “I will strengthen^(O) Judah
    and save the tribes of Joseph.
I will restore them
    because I have compassion^(P) on them.^(Q)
They will be as though
    I had not rejected them,
for I am the Lord their God
    and I will answer^(R) them.
⁷ The Ephraimites will become like warriors,
    and their hearts will be glad as with wine.^(S)
Their children will see it and be joyful;
    their hearts will rejoice^(T) in the Lord.
⁸ I will signal^(U) for them
    and gather them in.
Surely I will redeem them;
    they will be as numerous^(V) as before.
⁹ Though I scatter them among the peoples,
    yet in distant lands they will remember me.^(W)
They and their children will survive,
    and they will return.
¹⁰ I will bring them back from Egypt
    and gather them from Assyria.^(X)
I will bring them to Gilead^(Y) and Lebanon,
    and there will not be room^(Z) enough for them.
¹¹ They will pass through the sea of trouble;
    the surging sea will be subdued
    and all the depths of the Nile will dry up.^(AA)
Assyria’s pride^(AB) will be brought down
    and Egypt’s scepter^(AC) will pass away.^(AD)
12 I will strengthen^(AE) them in the Lord
    and in his name they will live securely,^(AF)”
declares the Lord.