The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.
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<<For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.>> I waited patiently for Yahweh. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 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.
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He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 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.
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He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in Yahweh.
4 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships;
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Blessed is the man who makes Yahweh his trust, And doesn't respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 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.
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Many, Yahweh, my God, are the wonderful works which you have done, And your thoughts which are toward us. They can't be set in order to you; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 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.
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Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire. My ears have you opened: Burnt offering and sin offering have you not required.
7 So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
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Then I said, "Behold, I have come. It is written about me in the book in the scroll.
8 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.
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I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart."
9 I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that.
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I have proclaimed glad news of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I will not seal my lips, Yahweh, you know.
10 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.
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I have not hidden your righteousness within my heart. I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation. I have not concealed your lovingkindness and your truth from the great assembly.
11 Now God, don't hold out on me, don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together.
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Don't withhold your tender mercies from me, Yahweh. Let your lovingkindness and your truth continually preserve me.
12 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.
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For innumerable evils have surrounded me. My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head. My heart has failed me.
13 Soften up, God, and intervene; hurry and get me some help,
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Be pleased, Yahweh, to deliver me. Hurry to help me, Yahweh.
14 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,
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Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek after my soul to destroy it. Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt.
15 So those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.
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Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that tell me, "Aha! Aha!"
16 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.
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Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let such as love your salvation say continually, "Let Yahweh be exalted!"
17 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.
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But I am poor and needy; May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don't delay, my God.
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.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.