English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!
1
Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don't pretend you don't hear me knocking.
2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,
2
Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.
3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.
3
at the mean voice, quail before the evil eye, As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander.
4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
4
My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down.
5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
5
I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot.
6 And I say, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
6
"Who will give me wings," I ask - "wings like a dove?" Get me out of here on dove wings;
7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
7
I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country,
8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest."
8
I want a cabin in the woods. I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.
9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city.
9
Come down hard, Lord - slit their tongues. I'm appalled how they've split the city Into rival gangs prowling the alleys
10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;
10
Day and night spoiling for a fight, trash piled in the streets,
11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.
11
Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating in broad daylight.
12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me-- then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me-- then I could hide from him.
12
This isn't the neighborhood bully mocking me - I could take that. This isn't a foreign devil spitting invective - I could tune that out.
13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
13
It's you! We grew up together! You! My best friend!
14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
14
Those long hours of leisure as we walked arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
15
Haul my betrayers off alive to hell - let them experience the horror, let them feel every desolate detail of a damned life.
16 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.
16
I call to God; God will help me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
17
At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs - he hears, he rescues.
18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.
18
My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
19
God hears it all, and from his judge's bench puts them in their place. But, set in their ways, they won't change; they pay him no mind.
20 My companion stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant.
20
And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word.
21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
21
All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.
22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
22
Pile your troubles on God's shoulders - he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin.
23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
23
But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog, Cut the lifespan of assassins and traitors in half. And I trust in you.
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.