Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are have a pure heart.
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No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
2 But me? My feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped
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But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness.
3 because I envied the arrogant; I observed how the wicked are well off:
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I was looking the other way, looking up to the people
4 They suffer no pain; their bodies are fit and strong.
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At the top, envying the wicked who have it made,
5 They are never in trouble; they aren't weighed down like other people.
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Who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
6 That's why they wear arrogance like a necklace, why violence covers them like clothes.
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Pretentious with arrogance, they wear the latest fashions in violence,
7 Their eyes bulge out from eating so well; their hearts overflow with delusions.
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Pampered and overfed, decked out in silk bows of silliness.
8 They scoff and talk so cruel; from their privileged positions they plan oppression.
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They jeer, using words to kill; they bully their way with words.
9 Their mouths dare to speak against heaven! Their tongues roam the earth!
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They're full of hot air, loudmouths disturbing the peace.
10 That's why people keep going back to them, keep approving what they say.
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People actually listen to them - can you believe it? Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.
11 And what they say is this: "How could God possibly know! Does the Most High know anything at all!"
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What's going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody's tending the store.
12 Look at these wicked ones, always relaxed, piling up the wealth!
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The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches
13 Meanwhile, I've kept my heart pure for no good reason; I've washed my hands to stay innocent for nothing.
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I've been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me?
14 I'm weighed down all day long. I'm punished every morning.
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A long run of bad luck, that's what - a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
15 If I said, "I will talk about all this," I would have been unfaithful to your children.
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If I'd have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children.
16 But when I tried to understand these things, it just seemed like hard work
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Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . .
17 until I entered God's sanctuary and understood what would happen to the wicked.
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Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture:
18 You will definitely put them on a slippery path; you will make them fall into ruin!
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The slippery road you've put them on, with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.
19 How quickly they are devastated, utterly destroyed by terrors!
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In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and - nightmare!
20 As quickly as a dream departs from someone waking up, my Lord, when you are stirred up, you make them disappear.
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We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing. There's nothing to them. And there never was.
21 When my heart was bitter, when I was all cut up inside,
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When I was beleaguered and bitter, totally consumed by envy,
22 I was stupid and ignorant. I acted like nothing but an animal toward you.
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I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox in your very presence.
23 But I was still always with you! You held my strong hand!
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I'm still in your presence, but you've taken my hand.
24 You have guided me with your advice; later you will receive me with glory.
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You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.
25 Do I have anyone else in heaven? There's nothing on earth I desire except you.
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You're all I want in heaven! You're all I want on earth!
26 My body and my heart fail, but God is my heart's rock and my share forever.
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When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful.
27 Look! Those far from you die; you annihilate all those who are unfaithful to you.
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Look! Those who left you are falling apart! Deserters, they'll never be heard from again.
28 But me? It's good for me to be near God. I have taken my refuge in you, my LORD God, so I can talk all about your works!
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But I'm in the very presence of God - oh, how refreshing it is! I've made Lord God my home. God, I'm telling the world what you do!
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.