New Living Translation NLT
The Message Bible MSG
1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to 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 lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
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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 has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in 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 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.
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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 O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.
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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 take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
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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 Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures:
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So I answered, "I'm coming. I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
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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 told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O LORD, well know.
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I've preached you to the whole congregation, I've kept back nothing, God - you know that.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
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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 LORD, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing 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 For troubles surround me— too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can’t see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.
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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 Please, LORD, rescue me! Come quickly, LORD, and help me.
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Soften up, God, and intervene; hurry and get me some help,
14 May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.
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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 them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
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So those who pray for my ruin will be booed and jeered without mercy.
16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “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 As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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.