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

13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocency.

14 For all the day long have I been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I say, I will speak thus;

Behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

16 When I thought to know this,

It was too painful for me;

13 Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?

Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?

14 I get nothing but trouble all day long;

every morning brings me pain.

15 If I had really spoken this way to others,

I would have been a traitor to your people.

16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all day long I have been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 When I thought how to understand this,

It was too painful for me—

13 So why have I kept my heart pure?

Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?

14 I have suffered all day long;

I have been punished every morning.

15 God, if I had decided to talk like this,

I would have let your people down.

16 I tried to understand all this,

but it was too hard for me to see

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;

13 Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: 14 For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

15 If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;

13 I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure 

and washing my hands of any blame. 

14 I’m plagued ⸤with problems⸥ all day long, 

and every morning my punishment ⸤begins again⸥. 

15 If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,” 

I would have betrayed God’s people. 

16 But when I tried to understand this, 

it was too difficult for me. 

13 Did I purify my heart

and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

14 For I am afflicted all day long

and punished every morning.

15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,

I would have betrayed Your people.

16 When I tried to understand all this,

it seemed hopeless

13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean

and washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all day long I have been plagued,

and am punished every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,”

I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure,

and washed my hands in innocence.

14 And I have been plagued all day

and rebuked every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

behold, I would have acted treacherously

against your children’s generation.

16 When I thought about how to understand this,

it was troubling in my eyes

13 It seems as if I have kept my heart pure without any reason.

It didn’t do me any good to wash my hands

to show that I wasn’t guilty of doing anything wrong.

14 Day after day I’ve been in pain.

God has punished me every morning.

15 What if I had said, “I will speak as evil people do”?

Then I wouldn’t have been faithful to God’s children.

16 I tried to understand it all.

But it was more than I could handle.

13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

And washed my hands in innocence;

14 For I have been stricken all day long

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.

16 When I pondered to understand this,

It was troublesome in my sight