The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 For the leader. Set in the style of Y'dutun. A psalm of David: I said, "I will watch how I behave, so that I won't sin with my tongue; I will put a muzzle on my mouth whenever the wicked confront me."
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I'm determined to watch steps and tongue so they won't land me in trouble. I decided to hold my tongue as long as Wicked is in the room.
2 I was silent, said nothing, not even good; but my pain kept being stirred up.
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"Mum's the word," I said, and kept quiet. But the longer I kept silence The worse it got -
3 My heart grew hot within me; whenever I thought of it, the fire burned. Then, [at last,] I let my tongue speak:
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my insides got hotter and hotter. My thoughts boiled over; I spilled my guts.
4 "Make me grasp, ADONAI, what my end must be, what it means that my days are numbered; let me know what a transient creature I am.
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"Tell me, what's going on, God? How long do I have to live? Give me the bad news!
5 You have made my days like handbreadths; for you, the length of my life is like nothing." Yes, everyone, no matter how firmly he stands, is merely a puff of wind. (Selah)
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You've kept me on pretty short rations; my life is string too short to be saved.
6 Humans go about like shadows; their turmoil is all for nothing. They accumulate wealth, not knowing who will enjoy its benefits.
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Oh! we're all puffs of air. Oh! we're all shadows in a campfire. Oh! we're just spit in the wind. We make our pile, and then we leave it.
7 Now, Adonai, what am I waiting for? You are my only hope.
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"What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that's what I'm doing - hoping
8 Rescue me from all my transgressions; don't make me the butt of fools.
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You'll save me from a rebel life, save me from the contempt of dunces.
9 I am silent, I keep my mouth shut, because it is you who have done it.
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I'll say no more, I'll shut my mouth, since you, Lord, are behind all this.
10 Stop raining blows on me; the pounding of your fist is wearing me down.
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But I can't take it much longer. When you put us through the fire
11 With rebukes you discipline people for their guilt; like a moth, you destroy what makes them attractive; yes, everyone is merely a puff of wind. (Selah)
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to purge us from our sin, our dearest idols go up in smoke. Are we also nothing but smoke?
12 Hear my prayer, ADONAI, listen to my cry, don't be deaf to my weeping; for with you, I am just a traveler passing through, like all my ancestors.
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"Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my cry - open your ears. Don't be callous; just look at these tears of mine. I'm a stranger here. I don't know my way - a migrant like my whole family.
13 Turn your gaze from me, so I can smile again before I depart and cease to exist.
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Give me a break, cut me some slack before it's too late and I'm out of here."
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.