English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;
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My God! Rescue me from my enemies, defend me from these mutineers.
2 deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
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Rescue me from their dirty tricks, save me from their hit men.
3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
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Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they're hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, God,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!
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crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they're after me, determined to get me.
5 You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
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You're God, God of angel armies, Israel's God! Get on the job and take care of these pagans, don't be soft on these hard cases.
6 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
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They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips-- for "Who," they think,"will hear us?"
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Then suddenly they're all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they'll never get caught.
8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
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But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.
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Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you.
10 My God in his steadfast lovewill meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
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God in dependable love shows up on time, shows me my enemies in ruin.
11 Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
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Don't make quick work of them, God, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece.
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,
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Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down - every muttered curse - every barefaced lie.
13 consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah
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Finish them off in fine style! Finish them off for good! Then all the world will see that God rules well in Jacob, everywhere that God's in charge.
14 Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
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They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
15 They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.
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They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them.
16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
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And me? I'm singing your prowess, shouting at cockcrow your largesse, For you've been a safe place for me, a good place to hide.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
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Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you - God, my dependable love.
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.