The Message Bible MSG
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
1
To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. The heavens [are] recounting the honour of God, And the work of His hands The expanse [is] declaring.
2 Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.
2
Day to day uttereth speech, And night to night sheweth knowledge.
3 Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded,
3
There is no speech, and there are no words. Their voice hath not been heard.
4 But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome!
4
Into all the earth hath their line gone forth, And to the end of the world their sayings, For the sun He placed a tent in them,
5 The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
5
And he, as a bridegroom, goeth out from his covering, He rejoiceth as a mighty one To run the path.
6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.
6
From the end of the heavens [is] his going out, And his revolution [is] unto their ends, And nothing is hid from his heat.
7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.
7
The law of Jehovah [is] perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah [are] stedfast, Making wise the simple,
8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.
8
The precepts of Jehovah [are] upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah [is] pure, enlightening the eyes,
9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.
9
The fear of Jehovah [is] clean, standing to the age, The judgments of Jehovah [are] true, They have been righteous -- together.
10 God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.
10
They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb.
11 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.
11
Also -- Thy servant is warned by them, `In keeping them [is] a great reward.'
12 Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?
12
Errors! who doth understand? From hidden ones declare me innocent,
13 Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
13
Also -- from presumptuous ones keep back Thy servant, Let them not rule over me, Then am I perfect, And declared innocent of much transgression,
14 These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
14
Let the sayings of my mouth, And the meditation of my heart, Be for a pleasing thing before Thee, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer!
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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.