The Message Bible MSG
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don't pretend you don't hear me knocking.
1
To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.
2 Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.
2
Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,
3 at the mean voice, quail before the evil eye, As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander.
3
Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.
4 My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down.
4
My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot.
5
Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.
6 "Who will give me wings," I ask - "wings like a dove?" Get me out of here on dove wings;
6
And I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,
7 I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country,
7
Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.
8 I want a cabin in the woods. I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.
8
I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.
9 Come down hard, Lord - slit their tongues. I'm appalled how they've split the city Into rival gangs prowling the alleys
9
Swallow up, O Lord, divide their tongue, For I saw violence and strife in a city.
10 Day and night spoiling for a fight, trash piled in the streets,
10
By day and by night they go round it, on its walls. Both iniquity and perverseness [are] in its midst,
11 Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating in broad daylight.
11
Mischiefs [are] in its midst. Fraud and deceit depart not from its street.
12 This isn't the neighborhood bully mocking me - I could take that. This isn't a foreign devil spitting invective - I could tune that out.
12
For an enemy reproacheth me not, or I bear [it], He who is hating me Hath not magnified himself against me, Or I hide from him.
13 It's you! We grew up together! You! My best friend!
13
But thou, a man -- as mine equal, My familiar friend, and mine acquaintance.
14 Those long hours of leisure as we walked arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
14
When together we sweeten counsel, Into the house of God we walk in company.
15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell - let them experience the horror, let them feel every desolate detail of a damned life.
15
Desolations [are] upon them, They go down [to] Sheol -- alive, For wickedness [is] in their dwelling, in their midst.
16 I call to God; God will help me.
16
I -- to God I call, and Jehovah saveth me.
17 At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs - he hears, he rescues.
17
Evening, and morning, and noon, I meditate, and make a noise, and He heareth my voice,
18 My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me.
18
He hath ransomed in peace my soul From him who is near to me, For with the multitude they were with me.
19 God hears it all, and from his judge's bench puts them in their place. But, set in their ways, they won't change; they pay him no mind.
19
God doth hear and afflict them, And He sitteth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, and fear not God,
20 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word.
20
He hath sent forth his hands against his well-wishers, He hath polluted his covenant.
21 All my life I've been charmed by his speech, never dreaming he'd turn on me. His words, which were music to my ears, turned to daggers in my heart.
21
Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].
22 Pile your troubles on God's shoulders - he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin.
22
Cast on Jehovah that which He hath given thee, And He doth sustain thee, He doth not suffer for ever the moving of the righteous.
23 But you, God, will throw the others into a muddy bog, Cut the lifespan of assassins and traitors in half. And I trust in you.
23
And Thou, O God, dost bring them down To a pit of destruction, Men of blood and deceit reach not to half their days, And I -- I do trust in Thee!
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.