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Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
    Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?

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What pleasure(A) would it give the Almighty if you were righteous?(B)
    What would he gain if your ways were blameless?(C)

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They do not compromise with evil,
    and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us
    to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently
    reflect your decrees!
Then I will not be ashamed
    when I compare my life with your commands.

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they do no wrong(A)
    but follow his ways.(B)
You have laid down precepts(C)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(D)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(E)
Then I would not be put to shame(F)
    when I consider all your commands.(G)

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Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

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Therefore, since we have these promises,(A) dear friends,(B) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(C) out of reverence for God.

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16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

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16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear(A) before God and man.

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17 You have wearied the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

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Breaking Covenant Through Injustice

17 You have wearied(A) the Lord with your words.

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.(B)

By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased(C) with them” or “Where is the God of justice?(D)

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The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

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The Lord detests the sacrifice(A) of the wicked,(B)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(C)

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22 The Lord detests lying lips,
    but he delights in those who tell the truth.

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22 The Lord detests lying lips,(A)
    but he delights(B) in people who are trustworthy.(C)

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20 The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,
    but he delights in those with integrity.

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20 The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,(A)
    but he delights(B) in those whose ways are blameless.(C)

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11 The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,
    but he delights in accurate weights.

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11 The Lord detests dishonest scales,(A)
    but accurate weights find favor with him.(B)

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10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse
    or in human might.
11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
    those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

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10 His pleasure is not in the strength(A) of the horse,(B)
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(C) in those who fear him,(D)
    who put their hope(E) in his unfailing love.(F)

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59 I pondered the direction of my life,
    and I turned to follow your laws.

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59 I have considered my ways(A)
    and have turned my steps to your statutes.

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Psalm 39

For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
    and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
    when the ungodly are around me.”

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Psalm 39[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

I said, “I will watch my ways(A)
    and keep my tongue from sin;(B)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(C)
    while in the presence of the wicked.”

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.

10 “But he knows where I am going.
    And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
11 For I have stayed on God’s paths;
    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from his commands,
    but have treasured his words more than daily food.

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10 But he knows the way that I take;(A)
    when he has tested me,(B) I will come forth as gold.(C)
11 My feet have closely followed his steps;(D)
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.(E)
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;(F)
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.(G)

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