The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 Listen and help, O God. I'm reduced to a whine And a whimper, obsessed with feelings of doomsday.
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Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Don't let them find me - the conspirators out to get me,
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Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,
3 Using their tongues as weapons, flinging poison words, poison-tipped arrow-words.
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who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,
4 They shoot from ambush, shoot without warning, not caring who they hit.
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shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They keep fit doing calisthenics of evil purpose, They keep lists of the traps they've secretly set. They say to each other, "No one can catch us,
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They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them? ”
6 no one can detect our perfect crime." The Detective detects the mystery in the dark of the cellar heart.
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They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search. ”For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7 The God of the Arrow shoots! They double up in pain,
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But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.
8 Fall flat on their faces in full view of the grinning crowd.
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They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Everyone sees it. God's work is the talk of the town.
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Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.
10 Be glad, good people! Fly to God! Good-hearted people, make praise your habit.
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Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!