The Living Bible (178 page)
Authors: Inc. Tyndale House Publishers
Tags: #BIBLES / Other Translations / Text
What happiness for those whose guilt has been forgiven! What joys when sins are covered over! What relief for those who have confessed their sins and God has cleared their record.
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There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was.
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But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration.
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All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day
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until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
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Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him
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if he does.
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You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory.
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I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.
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Don’t be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line!
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Many sorrows come to the wicked, but abiding love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
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So rejoice in him, all those who are his,
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and shout for joy, all those who try to obey him.
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Let all the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise him.
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Play joyous melodies of praise upon the lyre and on the harp.
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Compose new songs of praise to him, accompanied skillfully on the harp; sing joyfully.
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For all God’s words are right, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
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He loves whatever is just and good; the earth is filled with his tender love.
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He merely spoke, and the heavens were formed and all the galaxies of stars.
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He made the oceans, pouring them into his vast reservoirs.
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Let everyone in all the world—men, women, and children—fear the Lord and stand in awe of him.
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For when he but spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command!
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And with a breath he can scatter the plans of all the nations who oppose him,
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but his own plan stands forever. His intentions are the same for every generation.
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Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his own.
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The Lord gazes down upon mankind from heaven where he lives. He has made their hearts and closely watches everything they do.
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The best-equipped army cannot save a king—for great strength is not enough to save anyone. A war horse is a poor risk for winning victories—it is strong, but it cannot save.
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But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine!
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We depend upon the Lord alone to save us. Only he can help us; he protects us like a shield.
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No wonder we are happy in the Lord! For we are trusting him. We trust his holy name.
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Yes, Lord, let your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in you alone.
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace.
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I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart.
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Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.
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For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears.
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Others too were radiant at what he did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection!
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This poor man cried to the Lord—and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles.
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For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence him.
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Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him.
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If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs.
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Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.
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Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord.
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Do you want a long, good life?
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Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from lying.
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Turn from all known sin and spend your time in doing good. Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it.
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For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and he gives attention when they cry to him.
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But the Lord has made up his mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth.
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Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to him for help and saves him out of all his troubles.
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The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins.
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The good man does not escape all troubles—he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.
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Not one of his bones is broken.
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Calamity will surely overtake the wicked; heavy penalties are meted out to those who hate the good.
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But as for those who serve the Lord, he will redeem them; everyone who takes refuge in him will be freely pardoned.
O Lord, fight those fighting me; declare war on them for their attacks on me.
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Put on your armor, take your shield and protect me by standing in front.
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Lift your spear in my defense, for my pursuers are getting very close. Let me hear you say that you will save me from them.
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Dishonor those who are trying to kill me. Turn them back and confuse them.
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Blow them away like chaff in the wind—wind sent by the Angel of the Lord.
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Make their path dark and slippery before them, with the Angel of the Lord pursuing them.
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For though I did them no wrong, yet they laid a trap for me and dug a pitfall in my path.
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Let them be overtaken by sudden ruin, caught in their own net and destroyed.
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But I will rejoice in the Lord. He shall rescue me!
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From the bottom of my heart praise rises to him. Where is his equal in all of heaven and earth? Who else protects the weak and helpless from the strong, and the poor and needy from those who would rob them?
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These evil men swear to a lie. They accuse me of things I have never even heard about.
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I do them good, but they return me harm. I am sinking down to death.
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When they were ill, I mourned before the Lord in sackcloth, asking him to make them well; I refused to eat; I prayed for them with utmost earnestness, but God did not listen.
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I went about sadly as though it were my mother, friend, or brother who was sick and nearing death.
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But now that I am in trouble they are glad; they come together in meetings filled with slander against me—I didn’t even know some of those who were there.
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For they gather with the worthless fellows of the town and spend their time cursing me.
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Lord, how long will you stand there, doing nothing? Act now and rescue me, for I have but one life and these young lions are out to get it.
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Save me, and I will thank you publicly before the entire congregation, before the largest crowd I can find.
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Don’t give victory to those who fight me without any reason! Don’t let them rejoice
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at my fall—let them die.
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They don’t talk of peace and doing good, but of plots against innocent men who are minding their own business.
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They shout that they have seen
me
doing wrong! “Aha!” they say. “With our own eyes we saw him do it.”
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Lord, you know all about it. Don’t stay silent! Don’t desert me now!
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Rise up, O Lord my God; vindicate me.
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Declare me “not guilty,” for you are just.
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Don’t let my enemies rejoice over me in my troubles.
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Don’t let them say, “Aha! Our dearest wish against him will soon be fulfilled!” and, “At last we have him!”
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Shame them; let these who boast against me and who rejoice at my troubles be themselves overcome by misfortune that strips them bare of everything they own. Bare them to dishonor.
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But give great joy to all who wish me well. Let them shout with delight, “Great is the Lord who enjoys helping his child!”
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And I will tell everyone how great and good you are; I will praise you all day long.