English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
1
God - you're my God! I can't get enough of you! I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
2
So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
3
In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
4
I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.
5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
5
I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises!
6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
6
If I'm sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
7
Because you've always stood up for me, I'm free to run and play.
8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
8
I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.
9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;
9
Those who are out to get me are marked for doom, marked for death, bound for hell.
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
10
They'll die violent deaths; jackals will tear them limb from limb.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
11
But the king is glad in God; his true friends spread the joy, While small-minded gossips are gagged for good.
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.