The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Biblia.com)

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A David Psalm

1 26 Clear my name, God;

I’ve kept an honest shop.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you, God, and

I’m not budging.

2 Examine me, God, from head to foot,

order your battery of tests.

Make sure I’m fit

inside and out

3 So I never lose

sight of your love,

But keep in step with you,

never missing a beat.

4–5 I don’t hang out with tricksters,

I don’t pal around with thugs;

I hate that pack of gangsters,

I don’t deal with double-dealers.

6–7 I scrub my hands with purest soap,

then join hands with the others in the great circle,

dancing around your altar, God,

Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,

telling God-stories.

8–10 God, I love living with you;

your house glows with your glory.

When it’s time for spring cleaning,

don’t sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,

Men with bags of dirty tricks,

women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.

11–12 You know I’ve been aboveboard with you;

now be aboveboard with me.

I’m on the level with you, God;

I bless you every chance I get.

	About The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Many people assume that a book about a holy God should sound elevated, stately, and ceremonial. If this is how you’ve always viewed the Bible, you’re about to make a surprising discovery. The Message brings the life-changing power of the New Testament, the vibrant passion of the Psalms, and the rich, practical wisdom of Proverbs into easy-to-read modern language that echoes the rhythm and idioms of the original Greek and Hebrew. Written in the same kind of language you’d use to talk with friends, write a letter, or discuss politics, The Message preserves the authentic, earthy flavor and the expressive character of the Bible’s best-loved books. Whether you’ve been reading the Bible for years or are exploring it for the first time, The Message will startle and surprise you. And it will allow you to experience firsthand the same power and directness that motivated its original readers to change the course of history so many centuries ago.
Copyright	Copyright 2005 Eugene H. Peterson. THE MESSAGE text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses, without express written permission of the publisher, NavPress Publishing Group, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible and do not account for 25 percent or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted. Notice of copyright must appear as follows on either the title page or the copyright page of the work in which THE MESSAGE is quoted: “Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.” When quotations from THE MESSAGE text are used in nonsaleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies, or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but “The Message” must appear at the end of each quotation. Permission requests for commercial and noncommercial use that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to and approved in writing by NavPress Publishing Group, Permissions, P.O. Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935.
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About The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language