| The Message (MSG) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
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1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
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2 God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles.
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2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
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3 He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
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3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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4 He counts the stars and assigns each a name.
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4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
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5 Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does
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5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
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6 God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch.
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6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
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7 Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God,
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7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
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8 Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass,
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8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
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9 feeding both cattle and crows.
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9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
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10 He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.
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10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
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11 Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.
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11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
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12 Jerusalem, worship God! Zion, praise your God!
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12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,
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13 He made your city secure, he blessed your children among you.
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13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.
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14 He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables.
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14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
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15 He launches his promises earthward - how swift and sure they come!
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15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
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16 He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes,
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16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
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17 He broadcasts hail like birdseed - who can survive his winter?
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17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
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18 Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter - suddenly it's spring!
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18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
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19 He speaks the same way to Jacob, speaks words that work to Israel.
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19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
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20 He never did this to the other nations; they never heard such commands. Hallelujah!
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20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.
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| 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. (The Message Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
