English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
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Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
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God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
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He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
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He counts the stars and assigns each a name.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
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Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does
6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
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God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!
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Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God,
8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.
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Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, Then turning the mountains green with grass,
9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.
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feeding both cattle and crows.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
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He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.
11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
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Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.
12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
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Jerusalem, worship God! Zion, praise your God!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
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He made your city secure, he blessed your children among you.
14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
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He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables.
15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
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He launches his promises earthward - how swift and sure they come!
16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
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He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes,
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?
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He broadcasts hail like birdseed - who can survive his winter?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
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Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter - suddenly it's spring!
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.
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He speaks the same way to Jacob, speaks words that work to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
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He never did this to the other nations; they never heard such commands. Hallelujah!
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.