The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 My theme song is God's love and justice, and I'm singing it right to you, God.
1
I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music.
2 I'm finding my way down the road of right living, but how long before you show up? I'm doing the very best I can, and I'm doing it at home, where it counts.
2
I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;
3 I refuse to take a second look at corrupting people and degrading things. I reject made-in-Canaan gods, stay clear of contamination.
3
I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
4 The crooked in heart keep their distance; I refuse to shake hands with those who plan evil.
4
A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
5 I put a gag on the gossip who bad-mouths his neighbor; I can't stand arrogance.
5
Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
6 But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people - they're the ones I want working with me; Men and women on the straight and narrow - these are the ones I want at my side.
6
I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.
7 But no one who traffics in lies gets a job with me; I have no patience with liars. I've rounded up all the wicked like cattle and herded them right out of the country.
7
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
8 I purged God's city of all who make a business of evil. A prayer of one whose life is falling to pieces, and who lets God know just how bad it is.
8
Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.
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.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.