The Message Bible MSG
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 Light, space, zest - that's God! So, with him on my side I'm fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
1
By David. Jehovah [is] my light and my salvation, Whom do I fear? Jehovah [is] the strength of my life, Of whom am I afraid?
2 When vandal hordes ride down ready to eat me alive, Those bullies and toughs fall flat on their faces.
2
When evil doers come near to me to eat my flesh, My adversaries and mine enemies to me, They have stumbled and fallen.
3 When besieged, I'm calm as a baby. When all hell breaks loose, I'm collected and cool.
3
Though a host doth encamp against me, My heart doth not fear, Though war riseth up against me, In this I [am] confident.
4 I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I'll contemplate his beauty; I'll study at his feet.
4
One [thing] I asked of Jehovah -- it I seek. My dwelling in the house of Jehovah, All the days of my life, To look on the pleasantness of Jehovah, And to inquire in His temple.
5 That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.
5
For He hideth me in a tabernacle in the day of evil, He hideth me in a secret place of His tent, On a rock he raiseth me up.
6 God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I'm headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I'm singing God-songs; I'm making music to God.
6
And now, lifted up is my head, Above my enemies -- my surrounders, And I sacrifice in His tent sacrifices of shouting, I sing, yea, I sing praise to Jehovah.
7 Listen, God, I'm calling at the top of my lungs: "Be good to me! Answer me!"
7
Hear, O Jehovah, my voice -- I call, And favour me, and answer me.
8 When my heart whispered, "Seek God," my whole being replied, "I'm seeking him!"
8
To Thee said my heart `They sought my face, Thy face, O Jehovah, I seek.'
9 Don't hide from me now! You've always been right there for me; don't turn your back on me now. Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; you've always kept the door open.
9
Hide not Thy face from me, Turn not aside in anger Thy servant, My help Thou hast been. Leave me not, nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 My father and mother walked out and left me, but God took me in.
10
When my father and my mother Have forsaken me, then doth Jehovah gather me.
11 Point me down your highway, God; direct me along a well-lighted street; show my enemies whose side you're on.
11
Shew me, O Jehovah, Thy way, And lead me in a path of uprightness, For the sake of my beholders.
12 Don't throw me to the dogs, those liars who are out to get me, filling the air with their threats.
12
Give me not to the will of my adversaries, For risen against me have false witnesses, And they breathe out violence to me.
13 I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness in the exuberant earth.
13
I had not believed to look on the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living!
14 Stay with God! Take heart. Don't quit. I'll say it again: Stay with God.
14
Look unto Jehovah -- be strong, And He doth strengthen thy heart, Yea, look unto Jehovah!
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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.