English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
1
Bend an ear, God; answer me. I'm one miserable wretch!
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you--you are my God.
2
Keep me safe - haven't I lived a good life? Help your servant - I'm depending on you!
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.
3
You're my God; have mercy on me. I count on you from morning to night.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
4
Give your servant a happy life; I put myself in your hands!
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
5
You're well-known as good and forgiving, bighearted to all who ask for help.
6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.
6
Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.
7
Every time I'm in trouble I call on you, confident that you'll answer.
8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.
8
There's no one quite like you among the gods, O Lord, and nothing to compare with your works.
9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.
9
All the nations you made are on their way, ready to give honor to you, O Lord, Ready to put your beauty on display,
10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
10
parading your greatness, And the great things you do - God, you're the one, there's no one but you!
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
11
Train me, God, to walk straight; then I'll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
12
From the bottom of my heart I thank you, dear Lord; I've never kept secret what you're up to.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
13
You've always been great toward me - what love! You snatched me from the brink of disaster!
14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.
14
God, these bullies have reared their heads! A gang of thugs is after me - and they don't care a thing about you.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
15
But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.
16
So look me in the eye and show kindness, give your servant the strength to go on, save your dear, dear child!
17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
17
Make a show of how much you love me so the bullies who hate me will stand there slack-jawed, As you, God, gently and powerfully put me back on my feet.
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.