1 Com efeito, Deus é bom para com Israel,
para com os de coração limpo.
2 Quanto a mim, porém, quase me resvalaram os pés;
pouco faltou para que se desviassem os meus passos.
3 Pois eu invejava os arrogantes,
ao ver a prosperidade dos perversos.
4 Para eles não há preocupações,
o seu corpo é sadio e nédio.
5 Não partilham das canseiras dos mortais,
nem são afligidos como os outros homens.
6 Daí, a soberba que os cinge como um colar,
e a violência que os envolve como manto.
7 Os olhos saltam-lhes da gordura;
do coração brotam-lhes fantasias.
8 Motejam e falam maliciosamente;
da opressão falam com altivez.
9 Contra os céus desandam a boca,
e a sua língua percorre a terra.
10 Por isso, o seu povo se volta para eles
e os tem por fonte de que bebe a largos sorvos.
11 E diz: Como sabe Deus?
Acaso, há conhecimento no Altíssimo?
12 Eis que são estes os ímpios;
e, sempre tranquilos, aumentam suas riquezas.
13 Com efeito, inutilmente conservei puro o coração
e lavei as mãos na inocência.
14 Pois de contínuo sou afligido
e cada manhã, castigado.
15 Se eu pensara em falar tais palavras,
já aí teria traído a geração de teus filhos.
16 Em só refletir para compreender isso,
achei mui pesada tarefa para mim;
17 até que entrei no santuário de Deus
e atinei com o fim deles.
18 Tu certamente os pões em lugares escorregadios
e os fazes cair na destruição.
19 Como ficam de súbito assolados,
totalmente aniquilados de terror!
20 Como ao sonho, quando se acorda,
assim, ó Senhor, ao despertares, desprezarás a imagem deles.
21 Quando o coração se me amargou
e as entranhas se me comoveram,
22 eu estava embrutecido e ignorante;
era como um irracional à tua presença.
23 Todavia, estou sempre contigo,
tu me seguras pela minha mão direita.
24 Tu me guias com o teu conselho
e depois me recebes na glória.
25 Quem mais tenho eu no céu?
Não há outro em quem eu me compraza na terra.
26 Ainda que a minha carne e o meu coração desfaleçam,
Deus é a fortaleza do meu coração
e a minha herança para sempre.
27 Os que se afastam de ti, eis que perecem;
tu destróis todos os que são infiéis para contigo.
28 Quanto a mim, bom é estar junto a Deus;
no Senhor Deus ponho o meu refúgio,
para proclamar todos os seus feitos.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
Even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone;
My steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the arrogant,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death;
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men;
Neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck;
Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness:
They have more than heart could wish.
8 They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression:
They speak loftily.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens,
And their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither:
And waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 And they say, How doth God know?
And is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Behold, these are the wicked;
And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart,
And washed my hands in innocency;
14 For all the day long have I been plagued,
And chastened every morning.
15 If I had said, I will speak thus;
Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought how I might know this,
It was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God,
And considered their latter end.
18 Surely thou settest them in slippery places:
Thou castest them down to destruction.
19 How are they become a desolation in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh,
So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.
21 For my soul was grieved,
And I was pricked in my heart:
22 So brutish was I, and ignorant;
I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee:
Thou hast holden my right hand.
24 Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish:
Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, departing from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near unto God:
I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge,
That I may tell of all thy works.
1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. [^1]
5 They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity "; their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression.
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. [^3]
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, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted, 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 all this, it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.