Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 <<For the Chief Musician. To the tune "Silent Dove in Distant Lands". A miktam by David, when the Pelishtim seized him in Gat.>> Be merciful to me, God, for man wants to swallow me up. All day long, he attacks and oppresses me.
1
Take my side, God - I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
2 My enemies want to swallow me up all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.
2
Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up.
3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
3
When I get really afraid I come to you in trust.
4 In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
4
I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do?
5 All day long they twist my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.
5
They don't let up - they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse.
6 They conspire and lurk, Watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.
6
They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, God.
7
Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people!
8 You number my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Aren't they in your book?
8
You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, Each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.
9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I call. I know this, that God is for me.
9
If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side.
10 In God, I will praise his word. In the LORD, I will praise his word.
10
I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God.
11 I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
11
Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?
12 Your vows are on me, God. I will give thank offerings to you.
12
God, you did everything you promised, and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death, And prevented my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living.
13
You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom. Now I stroll at leisure with God in the sunlit fields of life.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.