The Message Bible MSG
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 The God of gods - it's God! - speaks out, shouts, "Earth!" welcomes the sun in the east, farewells the disappearing sun in the west.
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A Psalm of Asaph. The God of gods -- Jehovah -- hath spoken, And He calleth to the earth From the rising of the sun unto its going in.
2 From the dazzle of Zion, God blazes into view.
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From Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shone.
3 Our God makes his entrance, he's not shy in his coming. Starbursts of fireworks precede him.
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Our God cometh, and is not silent, Fire before Him doth devour, And round about him it hath been very tempestuous.
4 He summons heaven and earth as a jury, he's taking his people to court:
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He doth call unto the heavens from above, And unto the earth, to judge His people.
5 "Round up my saints who swore on the Bible their loyalty to me."
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Gather ye to Me My saints, Making covenant with Me over a sacrifice.
6 The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court, that here God is judge.
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And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself [is] judge. Selah.
7 "Are you listening, dear people? I'm getting ready to speak; Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial. This is God, your God, speaking to you.
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Hear, O My people, and I speak, O Israel, and I testify against thee, God, thy God [am] I.
8 I don't find fault with your acts of worship, the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
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Not for thy sacrifices do I reprove thee, Yea, thy burnt-offerings [Are] before Me continually.
9 But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull, or more and more goats from your herds?
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I take not from thy house a bullock, From thy folds he goats.
10 Every creature in the forest is mine, the wild animals on all the mountains.
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For Mine [is] every beast of the forest, The cattle on the hills of oxen.
11 I know every mountain bird by name; the scampering field mice are my friends.
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I have known every fowl of the mountains, And the wild beast of the field [is] with Me.
12 If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you? All creation and its bounty are mine.
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If I am hungry I tell not to thee, For Mine [is] the world and its fulness.
13 Do you think I feast on venison? or drink draughts of goats' blood?
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Do I eat the flesh of bulls, And drink the blood of he-goats?
14 Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises,
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Sacrifice to God confession, And complete to the Most High thy vows.
15 And call for help when you're in trouble - I'll help you, and you'll honor me."
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And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver thee, and thou honourest Me.
16 Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends?
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And to the wicked hath God said: What to thee -- to recount My statutes? That thou liftest up My covenant on thy mouth?
17 You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage.
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Yea, thou hast hated instruction, And dost cast My words behind thee.
18 If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice.
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If thou hast seen a thief, Then thou art pleased with him, And with adulterers [is] thy portion.
19 Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you.
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Thy mouth thou hast sent forth with evil, And thy tongue joineth deceit together,
20 You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister.
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Thou sittest, against thy brother thou speakest, Against a son of thy mother givest slander.
21 I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.
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These thou didst, and I kept silent, Thou hast thought that I am like thee, I reprove thee, and set in array before thine eyes.
22 "Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no help in sight!
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Understand this, I pray you, Ye who are forgetting God, Lest I tear, and there is no deliverer.
23 It's the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I'll show you my salvation."
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He who is sacrificing praise honoureth Me, As to him who maketh a way, I cause him to look on the salvation of 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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.