The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 Take my side, God - I'm getting kicked around, stomped on every day.
1
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Not a day goes by but somebody beats me up; They make it their duty to beat me up.
2
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 When I get really afraid I come to you in trust.
3
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 I'm proud to praise God; fearless now, I trust in God. What can mere mortals do?
4
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 They don't let up - they smear my reputation and huddle to plot my collapse.
5
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gang up, sneak together through the alleys To take me by surprise, wait their chance to get me.
6
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Pay them back in evil! Get angry, God! Down with these people!
7
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
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.
8
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 If my enemies run away, turn tail when I yell at them, Then I'll know that God is on my side.
9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 I'm proud to praise God, proud to praise God.
10
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11 Fearless now, I trust in God; what can mere mortals do to me?
11
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 God, you did everything you promised, and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
12
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
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.
13
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
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 King James Version is in the public domain.