The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 God majestic, praise abounds in our God-city! His sacred mountain,
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Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain,
2 breathtaking in its heights - earth's joy. Zion Mountain looms in the North, city of the world-King.
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beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
3 God in his citadel peaks impregnable.
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Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.
4 The kings got together, they united and came.
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For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together.
5 They took one look and shook their heads, they scattered and ran away.
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As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight.
6 They doubled up in pain like a woman having a baby.
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Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.
7 You smashed the ships of Tarshish with a storm out of the East.
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By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish.
8 We heard about it, then we saw it with our eyes - In God's city of angel armies, in the city our God Set on firm foundations, firm forever.
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As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God will establish forever. Selah
9 We pondered your love-in-action, God, waiting in your temple:
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We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.
10 Your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever It is spoken, near and far; your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action.
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As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Be glad, Zion Mountain; Dance, Judah's daughters! He does what he said he'd do!
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Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments!
12 Circle Zion, take her measure, count her fortress peaks,
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Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers,
13 Gaze long at her sloping bulwark, climb her citadel heights - Then you can tell the next generation detail by detail the story of God,
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consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation
14 Our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.
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that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.
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.