as I sit lazily in a quiet, empty house

I received The Message from Corrie for Christmas. I remember her reading this chapter to me as we lay in bed a while ago. Today as I sit lazily in a quiet, empty house I compare it to the NIV version:

Psalm 73:
NIV and The Message- An Asaph Psalm

1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
1 No doubt about it! God is good—
good to good people, good to the good-hearted
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
2 But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
3 I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
4 At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
5 Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
6 pretentious with arrogance,
they wear the latest fashions in violence,
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
7 Pampered and overfed,
decked out in silk and bows of silliness.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
8 They jeer, using words to kill;
they bully their way with words.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
9 They’re full of hot air,
loudmouths disturbing the peace.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
10 People actually listen to them—can you believe it?
Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.
11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
11 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch?
Nobody’s tending the store.
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
12 The wicked get by with everything;
they have it made, piling up riches.
13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
13 I’ve been stupid to play by the rules;
what has it gotten me?
14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
14 A long run of bad luck, that’s what—
a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
15 If I’d have given in and talked like this,
I would have betrayed your dear children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
16 Still, when I tried to figure it out,
all I got was a splitting headache…
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God.
Then I saw the whole picture
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
18 The slippery road you’ve put them on,
with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
19 In the blink of an eye, disaster!
A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare!
20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
20 We wake up and rub our eyes…Nothing.
There’s nothing to them. And there never was.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
21 When I was beleaguered and bitter,
totally consumed by envy,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
22 I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox
in your very presence.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
23 I’m still in your presence,
but you’ve taken my hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
24 You wisely and tenderly lead me,
and then you bless me.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
25 You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
26 When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
27 Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
28 But I’m in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
God, I’ telling the world what you do!

So similar, yet so different.