The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Not to us, ADONAI, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your grace and truth.
1
Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake, but for your name's sake, show your glory. Do it on account of your merciful love, do it on account of your faithful ways.
2 Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?"
2
Do it so none of the nations can say, "Where now, oh where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
3
Our God is in heaven doing whatever he wants to do.
4 Their idols are mere silver and gold, made by human hands.
4
Their gods are metal and wood, handmade in a basement shop:
5 They have mouths, but they can't speak; they have eyes, but they can't see;
5
Carved mouths that can't talk, painted eyes that can't see,
6 they have ears, but they can't hear; they have noses, but they can't smell;
6
Tin ears that can't hear, molded noses that can't smell,
7 they have hands, but they can't feel; they have feet, but they can't walk; with their throats they can't make a sound.
7
Hands that can't grasp, feet that can't walk or run, throats that never utter a sound.
8 The people who make them will become like them, along with everyone who trusts in them.
8
Those who make them have become just like them, have become just like the gods they trust.
9 Isra'el, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.
9
But you, Israel: put your trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
10 House of Aharon, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.
10
Clan of Aaron, trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
11 You who fear ADONAI, trust in ADONAI! He is their help and shield.
11
You who fear God, trust in God! - trust your Helper! trust your Ruler!
12 ADONAI has kept us in mind, and he will bless. He will bless the house of Isra'el; he will bless the house of Aharon;
12
O God, remember us and bless us, bless the families of Israel and Aaron.
13 he will bless those who fear ADONAI, great and small alike.
13
And let God bless all who fear God - bless the small, bless the great.
14 May ADONAI increase your numbers, both yours and those of your children.
14
Oh, let God enlarge your families - giving growth to you, growth to your children.
15 May you be blessed by ADONAI, the maker of heaven and earth.
15
May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth.
16 Heaven belongs to ADONAI, but the earth he has given to humankind.
16
The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the earth.
17 The dead can't praise ADONAI, not those who sink down into silence.
17
Dead people can't praise God - not a word to be heard from those buried in the ground.
18 But we will bless ADONAI from now on and forever. Halleluyah!
18
But we bless God, oh yes - we bless him now, we bless him always! Hallelujah!
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.