English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1
Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits.
2 Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
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Tell the world, Israel, "His love never quits."
3 Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
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And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world, "His love never quits."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever."
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And you who fear God, join in, "His love never quits."
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
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Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered.
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
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God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me?
7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
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God's my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
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Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people;
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
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Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
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Hemmed in by barbarians, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
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Hemmed in and with no way out, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
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Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in; in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
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I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
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God's my strength, he's also my song, and now he's my salvation.
15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
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Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? "The hand of God has turned the tide!
16 the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
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The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!"
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
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I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
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God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn't hand me over to Death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
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Swing wide the city gates - the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God!
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
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This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
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Thank you for responding to me; you've truly become my salvation!
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
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The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone!
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
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This is God's work. We rub our eyes - we can hardly believe it!
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
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This is the very day God acted - let's celebrate and be festive!
25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!
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Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God - a free and full life!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
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Blessed are you who enter in God's name - from God's house we bless you!
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
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God is God, he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
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You're my God, and I thank you. O my God, I lift high your praise.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
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Thank God - he's so good. His love never quits!
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
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.