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