The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Hallelujah! Praise the name of God, praise the works of God.
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Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2 All you priests on duty in God's temple, serving in the sacred halls of our God,
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Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,
3 Shout "Hallelujah!" because God's so good, sing anthems to his beautiful name.
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Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4 And why? Because God chose Jacob, embraced Israel as a prize possession.
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For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5 I too give witness to the greatness of God, our Lord, high above all other gods.
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For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 He does just as he pleases - however, wherever, whenever.
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Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7 He makes the weather - clouds and thunder, lightning and rain, wind pouring out of the north.
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He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
8 He struck down the Egyptian firstborn, both human and animal firstborn.
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Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9 He made Egypt sit up and take notice, confronted Pharaoh and his servants with miracles.
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Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10 Yes, he struck down great nations, he slew mighty kings -
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Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, also Og of Bashan - every last one of the Canaanite kings!
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Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12 Then he turned their land over to Israel, a gift of good land to his people.
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And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13 God, your name is eternal, God, you'll never be out-of-date.
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Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
14 God stands up for his people, God holds the hands of his people.
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For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15 The gods of the godless nations are mere trinkets, made for quick sale in the markets:
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The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16 Chiseled mouths that can't talk, painted eyes that can't see,
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They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17 Carved ears that can't hear - dead wood! cold metal!
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They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make and trust them become like them.
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They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19 Family of Israel, bless God! Family of Aaron, bless God!
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Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
20 Family of Levi, bless God! You who fear God, bless God!
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Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21 Oh, blessed be God of Zion, First Citizen of Jerusalem! Hallelujah!
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Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
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 King James Version is in the public domain.