The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 For the leader. A psalm of David: I waited patiently for ADONAI, till he turned toward me and heard my cry.
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I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
2 He brought me up from the roaring pit, up from the muddy ooze, and set my feet on a rock, making my footing firm.
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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 to our God. Many will look on in awe and put their trust in ADONAI.
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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 How blessed the man who trusts in ADONAI and does not look to the arrogant or to those who rely on things that are false.
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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 How much you have done, ADONAI my God! Your wonders and your thoughts toward us -none can compare with you! I would proclaim them, I would speak about them; but there's too much to tell!
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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 Sacrifices and grain offerings you don't want; burnt offerings and sin offerings you don't demand. Instead, you have given me open 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 then I said, "Here I am! I'm coming! In the scroll of a book it is written about me.
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So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
8 Doing your will, my God, is my joy; your Torah is in my inmost being.
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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 have proclaimed what is right in the great assembly; I did not restrain my lips, ADONAI, as you know.
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I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that.
10 I did not hide your righteousness in my heart but declared your faithfulness and salvation; I did not conceal your grace and truth 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 ADONAI, don't withhold your mercy from me. Let your grace and truth preserve me always.
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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 For numberless evils surround me; my iniquities engulf me - I can't even see; there are more of them than hairs on my head, so that my courage fails 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 Be pleased, ADONAI, to rescue me! ADONAI, hurry and help me!
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Soften up, God, and intervene; hurry and get me some help,
14 May those who seek to sweep me away be disgraced and humiliated together. May those who take pleasure in doing me harm be turned back and put to confusion.
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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 May those who jeer at me, "Aha! Aha!" be aghast because of their shame.
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So those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16 But may all those who seek you be glad and take joy in you. May those who love your salvation say always, "ADONAI is great and glorious!"
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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 I am poor and needy; may Adonai think of me. You are my helper and rescuer; my God, don't delay!
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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.
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.