The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 My God! Rescue me from my enemies, defend me from these mutineers.
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Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 Rescue me from their dirty tricks, save me from their hit men.
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deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men.
3 Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they're hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, God,
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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,
4 crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they're after me, determined to get me.
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for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 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.
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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
6 They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
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Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
7 Then suddenly they're all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they'll never get caught.
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There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips-- for "Who," they think,"will hear us?"
8 But you, God, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes.
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But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.
9 Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you.
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O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 God in dependable love shows up on time, shows me my enemies in ruin.
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My God in his steadfast lovewill meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11 Don't make quick work of them, God, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece.
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Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
12 Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down - every muttered curse - every barefaced lie.
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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,
13 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.
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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
14 They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city.
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Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.
15 They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them.
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They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill.
16 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.
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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.
17 Strong God, I'm watching you do it, I can always count on you - God, my dependable love.
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O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
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.