English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:
9
He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people:
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
10
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man.
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayedthus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
11
The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man.
12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.'
12
I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
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"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.'"
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
14
Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.