Common English Bible CEB
The Message Bible MSG
1 I put all my hope in the LORD. He leaned down to me; he listened to my cry for help.
1
I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of death, out of the mud and filth, and set my feet on solid rock. He steadied my legs.
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He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise for our God. Many people will learn of this and be amazed; they will trust the LORD.
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He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.
4 Those who put their trust in the LORD, who pay no attention to the proud or to those who follow lies, are truly happy!
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Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships;
5 You, LORD my God! You've done so many things— your wonderful deeds and your plans for us— no one can compare with you! If I were to proclaim and talk about all of them, they would be too numerous to count!
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The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you.
6 You don't relish sacrifices or offerings; you don't require entirely burned offerings or compensation offerings— but you have given me ears!
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Doing something for you, bringing something to you - that's not what you're after. Being religious, acting pious - that's not what you're asking for. You've opened my ears so I can listen.
7 So I said, "Here I come! I'm inscribed in the written scroll.
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So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
8 I want to do your will, my God. Your Instruction is deep within me."
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And I'm coming to the party you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being.
9 I've told the good news of your righteousness in the great assembly. I didn't hold anything back— as you well know, LORD!
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I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that.
10 I didn't keep your righteousness only to myself. I declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I didn't hide your loyal love and trustworthiness from the great assembly.
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I didn't keep the news of your ways a secret, didn't keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth For myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.
11 So now you, LORD— don't hold back any of your compassion from me. Let your loyal love and faithfulness always protect me,
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Now God, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together.
12 because countless evils surround me. My wrongdoings have caught up with me— I can't see a thing! There's more of them than hairs on my head— my courage leaves me.
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When troubles ganged up on me, a mob of sins past counting, I was so swamped by guilt I couldn't see my way clear. More guilt in my heart than hair on my head, so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
13 Favor me, LORD, and deliver me! LORD, come quickly and help me!
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Soften up, God, and intervene; hurry and get me some help,
14 Let those who seek my life, who want me dead, be disgraced and put to shame. Let those who want to do me harm be thoroughly frustrated and humiliated.
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So those who are trying to kidnap my soul will be embarrassed and lose face, So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable will be heckled and disgraced,
15 Let those who say to me, "Yes! Oh, yes!" be destroyed by their shame.
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So those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16 But let all who seek you celebrate and rejoice in you. Let those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD is great!"
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But all who are hunting for you - oh, let them sing and be happy. Let those who know what you're all about tell the world you're great and not quitting.
17 But me? I'm weak and needy. Let my Lord think of me. You are my help and my rescuer. My God, don't wait any longer!
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And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing: make something of me. You can do it; you've got what it takes - but God, don't put it off.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.