New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 The LORD, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets.
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The God of gods - it's God! - speaks out, shouts, "Earth!" welcomes the sun in the east, farewells the disappearing sun in the west.
2 From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance.
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From the dazzle of Zion, God blazes into view.
3 Our God approaches, and he is not silent. Fire devours everything in his way, and a great storm rages around him.
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Our God makes his entrance, he's not shy in his coming. Starbursts of fireworks precede him.
4 He calls on the heavens above and earth below to witness the judgment of his people.
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He summons heaven and earth as a jury, he's taking his people to court:
5 “Bring my faithful people to me— those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
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"Round up my saints who swore on the Bible their loyalty to me."
6 Then let the heavens proclaim his justice, for God himself will be the judge. Interlude
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The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court, that here God is judge.
7 “O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your God!
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"Are you listening, dear people? I'm getting ready to speak; Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial. This is God, your God, speaking to you.
8 I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
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I don't find fault with your acts of worship, the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
9 But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.
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But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull, or more and more goats from your herds?
10 For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
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Every creature in the forest is mine, the wild animals on all the mountains.
11 I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.
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I know every mountain bird by name; the scampering field mice are my friends.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.
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If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you? All creation and its bounty are mine.
13 Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?
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Do you think I feast on venison? or drink draughts of goats' blood?
14 Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
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Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises,
15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
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And call for help when you're in trouble - I'll help you, and you'll honor me."
16 But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant?
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Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends?
17 For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash.
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You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage.
18 When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers.
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If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice.
19 Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies.
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Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you.
20 You sit around and slander your brother— your own mother’s son.
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You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister.
21 While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you.
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I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.
22 Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.
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"Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no help in sight!
23 But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”
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It's the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I'll show you my salvation."
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.