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¹Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.

²But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

³For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.

⁴They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong.

⁵They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.

⁶They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty.

⁷These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for!

⁸They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.

⁹They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.

¹⁰And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.

¹¹“What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”

¹²Look at these wicked people — enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

¹⁴I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people.

¹⁶So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!

¹⁷Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

¹⁸Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

¹⁹In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.

²⁰When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.

²²I was so foolish and ignorant — I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.

²³Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand.

²⁴You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.

²⁶My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

²⁷Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you.

²⁸But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

¹O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?

²Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth.

³Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.

⁴There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards.

⁵They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest.

⁶With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling.

⁷They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.

⁸Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!” So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.

⁹We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end.

¹⁰How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?

¹¹Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

¹²You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth.

¹³You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.

¹⁴You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him.

¹⁵You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry.

¹⁶Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun.

¹⁷You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter.

¹⁸See how these enemies insult you, LORD. A foolish nation has dishonored your name.

¹⁹Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

²⁰Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence!

²¹Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

²²Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long.

²³Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.

¹We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

²God says, “At the time I have planned, I will bring justice against the wicked.

³When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil, I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. Interlude

⁴“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!

⁵Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’”

⁶For no one on earth — from east or west, or even from the wilderness — should raise a defiant fist.

⁷It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.

⁸For the LORD holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs.

⁹But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

¹⁰For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.”

¹God is honored in Judah; his name is great in Israel.

²Jerusalem is where he lives; Mount Zion is his home.

³There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy, the shields and swords and weapons of war. Interlude

⁴You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains.

⁵Our boldest enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us.

⁶At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still.

⁷No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes?

⁸From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you.

⁹You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Interlude

¹⁰Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.

¹¹Make vows to the LORD your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One.

¹²For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.

¹I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me!

²When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted.

³I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude

⁴You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!

⁵I think of the good old days, long since ended,

⁶when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.

⁷Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?

⁸Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed?

⁹Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude

¹⁰And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”

¹¹But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

¹²They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

¹³O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?

¹⁴You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.

¹⁵By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude

¹⁶When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths.

¹⁷The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed.

¹⁸Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters — a pathway no one knew was there!

²⁰You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.