God's Ways Vindicated

1 God is indeed good to Israel, to those pure in heart.

1 A Psalm of Asaph.Surely God is (A)good to Israel,To those who are (B)pure in heart!

1 {A Psalm of Asaph.} Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

1 BOOK III(Psalms 73–89)A psalm of Asaph.(A) God is indeed good to Israel,to the pure in heart.(B)

1 Truly God is good to Israel,To those who are pure in heart.

2 Now as for me, my feet nearly stumbled, as I almost lost my step.

2 But as for me, (C)my feet came close to stumbling,My steps (a)had almost slipped.

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

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;my steps nearly went astray.(C)

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

3 For I was envious of the proud when I observed the prosperity of the wicked.

3 For I was (D)envious of the (b)arrogantAs I saw the (E)prosperity of the wicked.

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

3 For I envied the arrogant;I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(D)

3 For I was envious of the arrogantAs I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there is no struggle at their deaths, and their bodies are healthy.

4 For there are no pains in their death,And their (c)body is fat.

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

4 They have an easy time until they die,(a)and their bodies are well fed.(b)(E)

4 For there are no pains in their death,Their body is fat and pampered.

5 They do not experience problems common to ordinary people; they aren't afflicted as others are.

5 They are (F)not (d)in trouble as other (e)men,Nor are they (G)plagued (f)like mankind.

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

5 They are not in trouble like others;they are not afflicted like most people.(F)

5 They are not in trouble as other men,Nor are they plagued like mankind.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace and violence covers them like a garment.

6 Therefore pride is (H)their necklace;The (I)garment of violence covers them.

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

6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,and violence covers them like a garment.(G)

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;Violence covers them like a garment [like a long, luxurious robe].

7 Their eyes bulge from obesity and the imaginations of their mind cross the border into sin.

7 Their eye (g)bulges from (J)fatness;The imaginations of their heart (h)run riot.

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

7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(H)

7 Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires];The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness].

8 In their mockery they speak evil; from their arrogant position they speak oppression.

8 They (K)mock and (i)wickedly speak of oppression;They (L)speak from on high.

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

8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;they arrogantly threaten oppression.(I)

8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;They speak loftily [with malice].

9 They choose to speak against heaven; while they talk about things on earth.

9 They have (M)set their mouth (j)against the heavens,And their tongue (k)parades through the earth.

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

9 They set their mouths against heaven,and their tongues strut across the earth.(J)

9 They set their mouth against the heavens,And their tongue swaggers through the earth.(A)

10 Therefore God's people return there and drink it all in like water until they're satiated.

10 Therefore (l)his people return to this place,And waters of (N)abundance are (m)drunk by them.

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

10 Therefore His people turn to them(c)and drink in their overflowing words.(d)(K)

10 Therefore his people return to this place,And waters of abundance [offered by the irreverent] are [blindly] drunk by them.

11 Then they say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?"

11 They say, “(O)How does God know?And is there knowledge (n)with the Most High?”

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

11 The wicked say, “How can God know?Does the Most High know everything?”(L)

11 They say, “How does God know?Is there knowledge [of us] with the Most High?”

12 Just look at these wicked people! They're perpetually carefree as they increase their wealth.

12 Behold, (P)these are the wicked;And always (Q)at ease, they have increased in wealth.

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

12 Look at them—the wicked!They are always at ease,and they increase their wealth.(M)

12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who always prosper and are at ease [in the world]; they have increased in wealth.

13 I kept my heart pure for nothing and kept my hands clean from guilt.

13 Surely (R)in vain I have (o)kept my heart pureAnd (S)washed my hands in innocence;

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

13 Did I purify my heartand wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(N)

13 Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heartAnd washed my hands in innocence.(B)

14 For I suffer all day long and I am punished every morning.

14 For I have been stricken (T)all day longAnd (p)(U)chastened every morning.

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

14 For I am afflicted all day longand punished every morning.(O)

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

15 If I say, "I will talk like this," I would betray a generation of your children.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”Behold, I would have betrayed the (V)generation of Your children.

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

15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,I would have betrayed Your people.(e)(P)

15 If I had said, “I will say this,” [and expressed my feelings],I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16 When I tried to understand this, it was too difficult for me

16 When I (W)pondered to understand this,It was (q)troublesome in my sight

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

16 When I tried to understand all this,it seemed hopeless(f)(Q)

16 When I considered how to understand this,It was too great an effort for me and too painful

17 until I entered the sanctuaries of God. Then I understood their destiny.

17 Until I came into the (r)(X)sanctuary of God;Then I perceived their (Y)end.

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

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.Then I understood their destiny.(R)

17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;Then I understood [for I considered] their end.

18 You have certainly set them in slippery places; you will make them fall to their ruin.

18 Surely You set them in (Z)slippery places;You cast them down to (s)(AA)destruction.

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

18 Indeed, You put them in slippery places;You make them fall into ruin.(S)

18 Surely You set the wicked-minded and immoral on slippery places;You cast them down to destruction.

19 How desolate they quickly become, completely destroyed by calamities.

19 How they are (t)(AB)destroyed in a moment!They are utterly swept away by (AC)sudden terrors!

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

19 How suddenly they become a desolation!They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(T)

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

20 Like a dream when one awakens, Lord, you will despise their image when you arise.

20 Like a (AD)dream when one awakes,O Lord, when (AE)aroused, You will (AF)despise their (u)form.

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

20 Like one waking from a dream,Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.(U)

20 Like a dream [which seems real] until one awakens,O Lord, when stirred, [You observe the wicked], You will despise their image.

21 When I chose to be bitter I was emotionally pained.

21 When my (AG)heart was embitteredAnd I was (AH)pierced (v)within,

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

21 When I became embitteredand my innermost being(g) was wounded,(V)

21 When my heart was embitteredAnd I was pierced within [as with the fang of an adder],

22 Then, I was too stupid and didn't realize I was acting like a wild animal with you.

22 Then I was (AI)senseless and ignorant;I was like (w)a (AJ)beast (x)before You.

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

22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;I was an unthinking animal toward You.(W)

22 Then I was senseless and ignorant;I was like a beast before You.

23 But now I am always with you, for you keep holding my right hand.

23 Nevertheless (AK)I am continually with You;You have taken hold of my right hand.

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

23 Yet I am always with You;You hold my right hand.(X)

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

24 You will guide me with your wise advice, and later you will receive me with honor.

24 With Your counsel You will (AL)guide me,And afterward (AM)receive me (y)to glory.

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

24 You guide me with Your counsel,and afterward You will take me up in glory.(h)(Y)

24 You will guide me with Your counsel,And afterward receive me to honor and glory.

25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire nothing on this earth.

25 (AN)Whom have I in heaven but You?And (z)besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

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

25 Who do I have in heaven but You?And I desire nothing on earth but You.(Z)

25 Whom have I in heaven [but You]?And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

26 My body and mind may fail, but God is my strength and my portion forever.

26 My (AO)flesh and my heart may fail,But God is the (aa)strength of my heart and my (AP)portion forever.

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

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength(i) of my heart,my portion forever.(AA)

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

27 Those far from you will perish; you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.

27 For, behold, (AQ)those who are far from You will (AR)perish;You have (ab)destroyed all those who (ac)(AS)are unfaithful to You.

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

27 Those far from You will certainly perish;You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.(AB)

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

28 As for me, how good for me it is that God is near! I have made the Lord GOD my refuge so I can tell about all your deeds. An instruction of Asaph

28 But as for me, (AT)the nearness of God is my good;I have made the Lord (ad)God my (AU)refuge,That I may (AV)tell of all Your works.

28 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.

28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.I have made the Lord God my refuge,so I can tell about all You do.(AC)

28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God;I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him,That I may tell of all Your works.

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