Gud er virkelig god mot Israel, mot dem som har et rent hjerte.

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

Men jeg var nære ved å snuble; føttene mine holdt nesten på å svikte meg.

But as for me, my feet had almost gone from under me; I was near to slipping;

For jeg misunte de stolte da jeg så de ugudeliges velstand.

Because of my envy of the men of pride, when I saw the well-being of the wrongdoers.

De lider ikke smerte; kroppen deres er sunn og sterk.

For they have no pain; their bodies are fat and strong.

De møter ikke vanskeligheter som andre; de har ikke del i menneskers svøpe.

They are not in trouble as others are; they have no part in the unhappy fate of men.

Derfor bærer de stolthet som en kjede; vold er deres kledning.

For this reason pride is round them like a chain; they are clothed with violent behaviour as with a robe.

Øynene deres buler av fett; de har mer enn hjertet ønsker.

Their eyes are bursting with fat; they have more than their heart's desire.

De spekulerer i onde tanker; deres tale fra maktens høysete er grusom.

Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.

Munnen deres er mot himmelen; tungen vandrer gjennom jorden.

Their mouth goes up to heaven; their tongues go walking through the earth.

Derfor har de mer enn nok mat og drikke.

For this reason they are full of bread; and water is ever flowing for them.

Og de sier: Hvordan kan Herren se dette? Finnes det kunnskap i Den Høyeste?

And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?

Slik er de ugudelige: de har alltid fremgang, og deres rikdom vokser.

Truly, such are the sinners; they do well at all times, and their wealth is increased.

Men for meg ser det ut til at jeg har renset hjertet mitt forgjeves og vasket hendene mine i uskyld.

As for me, I have made my heart clean to no purpose, washing my hands in righteousness;

For jeg plages hele dagen, hver morgen blir jeg tuktet.

For I have been troubled all the day; every morning have I undergone punishment.

Hvis jeg skulle snakke som dem, ville jeg være utro mot dine barn.

If I would make clear what it is like, I would say, You are false to the generation of your children.

Da jeg prøvde å forstå dette, virket det håpløst for meg,

When my thoughts were turned to see the reason of this, it was a weariness in my eyes;

inntil jeg gikk inn til Guds helligdom og så hva som ville skje med de onde.

Till I went into God's holy place, and saw the end of the evil-doers.

Du plasserer dem på glatte steder, så de faller i undergang.

You put their feet where there was danger of slipping, so that they go down into destruction.

Hvor plutselig blir de ødelagt! Skrekkene er årsaken til deres fortapelse.

How suddenly are they wasted! fears are the cause of their destruction.

Som en drøm når man våkner, er de borte; lik et bilde som glemmes når man våkner.

As a dream when one is awake, they are ended; they are like an image gone out of mind when sleep is over.

Hjertet mitt ble bittert, og jeg kjente smerten av sorg:

My heart was made bitter, and I was pained by the bite of grief:

Jeg var uvitende og uforstandig; jeg var som et dyr foran deg.

As for me, I was foolish, and without knowledge; I was like a beast before you.

Men likevel er jeg alltid hos deg; du har tatt min høyre hånd.

But still I am ever with you; you have taken me by my right hand.

Din visdom er min veileder, og senere skal du føre meg til ære.

Your wisdom will be my guide, and later you will put me in a place of honour.

Hvem har jeg i himmelen utenom deg? Og med deg ønsker jeg intet på jorden.

Whom have I in heaven but you? and having you I have no desire for anything on earth.

Mitt legeme og mitt hjerte svikter: men Gud er mitt hjertes klippe og min evige arv.

My flesh and my heart are wasting away: but God is the Rock of my heart and my eternal heritage.

De som er langt fra deg, skal gå til grunne; du gjør ende på alle som er troløse mot deg.

For those who are far away from you will come to destruction: you will put an end to all those who have not kept faith with you.

Men for meg er det godt å være nær Gud: Jeg har satt min lit til Herren Gud, for å forkynne alle hans gjerninger.

But it is good for me to come near to God: I have put my faith in the Lord God, so that I may make clear all his works.