Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 <<For the Chief Musician. On the gittit. By Asaf.>> Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful noise to the God of Ya`akov!
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A song to our strong God! a shout to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, The pleasant lyre with the harp.
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Anthems from the choir, music from the band, sweet sounds from lute and harp,
3 Blow the shofar at the New Moon, At the full moon, on our feast day.
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Trumpets and trombones and horns: it's festival day, a feast to God!
4 For it is a statute for Yisra'el, An ordinance of the God of Ya`akov.
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A day decreed by God, solemnly ordered by the God of Jacob.
5 He appointed it in Yosef for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Mitzrayim, I heard a language that I didn't know.
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He commanded Joseph to keep this day so we'd never forget what he did in Egypt. I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me:
6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
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"I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labor.
7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Merivah." Selah.
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You called to me in your pain; I got you out of a bad place. I answered you from where the thunder hides, I proved you at Meribah Fountain.
8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you. Yisra'el, if you would listen to me!
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"Listen, dear ones - get this straight; O Israel, don't take this lightly.
9 There shall be no strange god in you, Neither shall you worship any foreign god.
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Don't take up with strange gods, don't worship the latest in gods.
10 I am the LORD, your God, Who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
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I'm God, your God, the very God who rescued you from doom in Egypt, Then fed you all you could eat, filled your hungry stomachs.
11 But my people didn't listen to my voice. Yisra'el desired none of me.
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"But my people didn't listen, Israel paid no attention;
12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, That they might walk in their own counsels.
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So I let go of the reins and told them, 'Run! Do it your own way!'
13 Oh that my people would listen to me, That Yisra'el would walk in my ways!
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"Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my map?
14 I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.
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I'll make short work of your enemies, give your foes the back of my hand.
15 The haters of the LORD would cringe before him, And their punishment would last forever.
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I'll send the God-haters cringing like dogs, never to be heard from again.
16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock."
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You'll feast on my fresh-baked bread spread with butter and rock-pure honey."
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.