BOOK III Surely God Is Good to Israel 3 UST because I envied those who proudly acted as if they did not need God, when I realized that they prospered even though they were wicked. BSB BSB: For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 UST Those people do not suffer; they always have plenty of food to eat. BSB BSB: They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed.
5 UST They do not experience the difficult things that other people do; they do not experience catastrophes and sicknesses like other people. BSB BSB: They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.
6 UST So they are proud and violent. Their being prideful is like a necklace that they show off to others, and they openly display their violent actions like people openly display the clothes they wear. BSB BSB: Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.
7 UST Their eyes protrude because their faces are fat, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do. BSB BSB: From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.
8 UST They scoff at other people, and wickedly talk about doing unjust things to them; they speak pridefully. BSB BSB: They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 UST They exalt themselves and talk as if they are God in heaven, and they go about the earth talking boastfully. BSB BSB: They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
10 UST The result is that people pay attention to them and listen to everything they say. BSB BSB: So their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.
11 UST Wicked people say to themselves,“God certainly does not care what we do; the Most High certainly will not judge us for what we do!” BSB BSB: The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”
12 UST Look at how these wicked people live; their lives are so easy that they never have to worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer. BSB BSB: Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth.
13 UST { When I saw this I thought that} certainly it is useless that I have thought about things that are pleasing to you and have not sinned. BSB BSB: Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure; in innocence I have washed my hands.
14 UST Every day I suffer, and every morning you punish me. BSB BSB: For I am afflicted all day long and punished every morning.
15 UST If I had said these things out loud in front of others, surely I would have been sinning against your people. BSB BSB: If I had said, “I will speak this way,” then I would have betrayed Your children.
17 UST But when I went to the temple where people worship God, then I understood what will happen to wicked people in the future. BSB BSB: until I entered God’s sanctuary; then I discerned their end.
18 UST I know that you make their future insecure; you will cause them to be ruined. BSB BSB: Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
19 UST God will suddenly destroy these wicked people; they will die in terrible ways. BSB BSB: How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!
20 UST Lord, when you act, you will cause the wicked to quickly vanish; they will vanish like a dream which disappears as soon as a person awakes from their sleep. BSB BSB: Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.
21 UST When I was grieved in my inner being and felt emotionally hurt, BSB BSB: When my heart was grieved and I was pierced within,
22 UST I was stupid and ignorant; I behaved like an animal toward you. BSB BSB: I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You.
23 UST Nevertheless I am always with you; you constantly stay close to me. BSB BSB: Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.
24 UST You lead me by instructing me, and when I die, you will take me into your glorious presence. BSB BSB: You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
25 UST You are the only one I have in heaven! There is nothing on this earth that I desire more than you. BSB BSB: Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You.
26 UST My body and my spirit may become very weak, but God enables me to feel encouraged; he has granted to me that I would belong to him forever. BSB BSB: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 UST People who abandon you will perish; you will ruin every person who is not loyal to you. BSB BSB: Those far from You will surely perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
28 UST But for me, the only thing I need is to be close to God. I trust in the Lord Yahweh to keep me safe so that I may tell others everything you have done for me. BSB BSB: But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.