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.

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;

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then understood I their end.

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!

17 Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,

and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.

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—

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.

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

17 until I went to the Temple of God.

Then I understood what will happen to them.

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.

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; 17 Until I went into the sanctuaries of •God; then understood I their end.

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. 

17 Only when I came into God’s holy place 

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

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

17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.

Then I understood their destiny.

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,

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;

then I perceived their end.

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

17 until I went into the sanctuary of God.

Then I understood their fate.

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.

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

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

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

17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;

Then I perceived their end.