English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame!
1
I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!
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Do what you do so well: get me out of this mess and up on my feet. Put your ear to the ground and listen, give me space for salvation.
3 Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
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Be a guest room where I can retreat; you said your door was always open! You're my salvation - my vast, granite fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
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My God, free me from the grip of Wicked, from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
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You keep me going when times are tough - my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.
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I've hung on you from the day of my birth, the day you took me from the cradle; I'll never run out of praise.
7 I have been as a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.
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Many gasp in alarm when they see me, but you take me in stride.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.
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Just as each day brims with your beauty, my mouth brims with praise.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
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But don't turn me out to pasture when I'm old or put me on the shelf when I can't pull my weight.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together
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My enemies are talking behind my back, watching for their chance to knife me.
11 and say, "God has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him."
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The gossip is: "God has abandoned him. Pounce on him now; no one will help him."
12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
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God, don't just watch from the sidelines. Come on! Run to my side!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt.
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My accusers - make them lose face. Those out to get me - make them look
14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
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while I stretch out, reaching for you, and daily add praise to praise.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge.
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I'll write the book on your righteousness, talk up your salvation the livelong day, never run out of good things to write or say.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
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I come in the power of the Lord God, I post signs marking his right-of-way.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
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You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders;
18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
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I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. God, don't walk off and leave me until I get out the news Of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come,
19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?
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Your famous and righteous ways, O God. God, you've done it all! Who is quite like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.
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You, who made me stare trouble in the face, Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face. I've been to the bottom;
21 You will increase my greatness and comfort me again.
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streaming with honors; turn to me, be tender to me,
22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
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And I'll take up the lute and thank you to the tune of your faithfulness, God. I'll make music for you on a harp, Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.
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When I open up in song to you, I let out lungsful of praise, my rescued life a song.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.
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All day long I'm chanting about you and your righteous ways, While those who tried to do me in slink off looking ashamed.
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.