New International Version NIV
The Message Bible MSG
1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.
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I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might, I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.
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I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
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I remember God - and shake my head. I bow my head - then wring my hands.
4 You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.
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I'm awake all night - not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me.
5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;
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I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by.
6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
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I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.
7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?
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Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?
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Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
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Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us?
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
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"Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
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Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
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I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts.
13 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?
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O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God!
14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
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You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do -
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
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You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.
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Ocean saw you in action, God, saw you and trembled with fear; Deep Ocean was scared to death.
17 The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.
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Clouds belched buckets of rain, Sky exploded with thunder, your arrows flashing this way and that.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
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From Whirlwind came your thundering voice, Lightning exposed the world, Earth reeled and rocked.
19 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
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You strode right through Ocean, walked straight through roaring Ocean, but nobody saw you come or go.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron, You led your people like a flock of sheep.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.