Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence,
1
Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend, make the mountains shudder at your presence -
2 as when fire kindles the brushwood, [and] the fire causes the waters to boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!
2
As when a forest catches fire, as when fire makes a pot to boil -
3 When you did terrible things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
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To shock your enemies into facing you, make the nations shake in their boots! You did terrible things we never expected, descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
4 For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him.
4
Since before time began no one has ever imagined, No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you who works for those who wait for him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways: behold, you were angry, and we sinned: in them [have we been] of long time; and shall we be saved?
5
You meet those who happily do what is right, who keep a good memory of the way you work. But how angry you've been with us! We've sinned and kept at it so long! Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
6 For we are all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
6
We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves - sin-dried, we're blown off by the wind.
7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hid your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities.
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No one prays to you or makes the effort to reach out to you Because you've turned away from us, left us to stew in our sins.
8 But now, LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand.
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Still, God, you are our Father. We're the clay and you're our potter: All of us are what you made us.
9 Don't be angry very sore, LORD, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people.
9
Don't be too angry with us, O God. Don't keep a permanent account of wrongdoing. Keep in mind, please, we are your people - all of us.
10 Your holy cities are become a wilderness, Tziyon is become a wilderness, Yerushalayim a desolation.
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Your holy cities are all ghost towns: Zion's a ghost town, Jerusalem's a field of weeds.
11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.
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Our holy and beautiful Temple, which our ancestors filled with your praises, Was burned down by fire, all our lovely parks and gardens in ruins.
12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, LORD? will you hold your shalom, and afflict us very sore?
12
In the face of all this, are you going to sit there unmoved, God? Aren't you going to say something? Haven't you made us miserable long enough?
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.