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.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I discerned their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places;

you make them fall to ruin.

19 How they are destroyed in a moment,

swept away utterly by terrors!

20 Like a dream when one awakes,

O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

16 So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.

But what a difficult task it is!

17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

18 Truly, you put them on a slippery path

and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.

19 In an instant they are destroyed,

completely swept away by terrors.

20 When you arise, O Lord,

you will laugh at their silly ideas

as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

16 When I thought how to understand this,

It was too painful for me—

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.

18 Surely You set them in slippery places;

You cast them down to destruction.

19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awakes,

So, Lord, when You awake,

You shall despise their image.

16 I tried to understand all this,

but it was too hard for me to see

17 until I went to the Temple of God.

Then I understood what will happen to them.

18 You have put them in danger;

you cause them to be destroyed.

19 They are destroyed in a moment;

they are swept away by terrors.

20 It will be like waking from a dream.

Lord, when you rise up, they will disappear.

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.

16 When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes; 17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of •God; then understood I their end. 18 Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins. 19 How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.

16 But when I tried to understand this, 

it was too difficult for me. 

17 Only when I came into God’s holy place 

did I ⸤finally⸥ understand what would happen to them. 

18 You put them in slippery places 

and make them fall into ruin. 

19 They are suddenly destroyed. 

They are completely swept away by terror! 

20 As ⸤someone⸥ gets rid of a dream when he wakes up, 

so you, O Lord, get rid of the thought of them 

when you wake up. 

16 When I tried to understand all this,

it seemed hopeless

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.

Then I understood their destiny.

18 Indeed, You put them in slippery places;

You make them fall into ruin.

19 How suddenly they become a desolation!

They come to an end, swept away by terrors.

20 Like one waking from a dream,

Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.

16 But when I thought how to understand this,

it seemed to me a wearisome task,

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I perceived their end.

18 Truly you set them in slippery places;

you make them fall to ruin.

19 How they are destroyed in a moment,

swept away utterly by terrors!

20 They are like a dream when one awakes;

on awaking you despise their phantoms.

16 When I thought about how to understand this,

it was troubling in my eyes

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God.

Then I understood their fate.

18 Surely you set them on slippery places.

You cause them to fall onto ruin.

19 How they become a desolation in a moment!

They come to a complete end by terrors.

20 Like a dream upon awakening,

when you wake up, O Lord,

you will despise their fleeting form.

16 I tried to understand it all.

But it was more than I could handle.

17 It troubled me until I entered God’s temple.

Then I understood what will happen to bad people in the end.

18 God, I’m sure you will make them slip and fall.

You will throw them down and destroy them.

19 It will happen very suddenly.

A terrible death will take them away completely.

20 A dream goes away when a person wakes up.

Lord, it will be like that when you rise up.

It will be as if those people were only a dream.

16 When I pondered to understand this,

It was troublesome in my sight

17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;

Then I perceived their end.

18 Surely You set them in slippery places;

You cast them down to destruction.

19 How they are destroyed in a moment!

They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!

20 Like a dream when one awakes,

O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.