The Message (MSG)

A David Prayer

1-2 Listen while I build my case,God,

the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.

Show the world I’m innocent—

in your heart you know I am.

3 Go ahead, examine me from inside out,

surprise me in the middle of the night—

You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.

My words don’t run loose.

4-5 I’m not trying to get my way

in the world’s way.

I’m trying to getyourway,

your Word’s way.

I’m staying on your trail;

I’m putting one foot

In front of the other.

I’m not giving up.

6-7 I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.

So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!

Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;

take in your frightened children who

Are running from the neighborhood bullies

straight to you.

8-9 Keep your eye on me;

hide me under your cool wing feathers

From the wicked who are out to get me,

from mortal enemies closing in.

10-14 Their hearts are hard as nails,

their mouths blast hot air.

They are after me, nipping my heels,

determined to bring me down,

Lions ready to rip me apart,

young lions poised to pounce.

Up,God: beard them! break them!

By your sword, free me from their clutches;

Barehanded,God, break these mortals,

these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.

I’d like to see their bellies

swollen with famine food,

The weeds they’ve sown

harvested and baked into famine bread,

With second helpings for their children

and crusts for their babies to chew on.

15 And me? I plan on looking

you full in the face. When I get up,

I’ll see your full stature

and live heaven on earth.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/17-93c13d9551c975ef80cb27cacce3fb1e.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Song, Which He Sang to God After Being Saved from All His Enemies and from Saul

1-2 I love you,God—

you make me strong.

Godis bedrock under my feet,

the castle in which I live,

my rescuing knight.

My God—the high crag

where I run for dear life,

hiding behind the boulders,

safe in the granite hideout.

3 I sing toGod, the Praise-Lofty,

and find myself safe and saved.

4-5 The hangman’s noose was tight at my throat;

devil waters rushed over me.

Hell’s ropes cinched me tight;

death traps barred every exit.

6 A hostile world! I call toGod,

I cry to God to help me.

From his palace he hears my call;

my cry brings me right into his presence—

a private audience!

7-15 Earth wobbles and lurches;

huge mountains shake like leaves,

Quake like aspen leaves

because of his rage.

His nostrils flare, bellowing smoke;

his mouth spits fire.

Tongues of fire dart in and out;

he lowers the sky.

He steps down;

under his feet an abyss opens up.

He’s riding a winged creature,

swift on wind-wings.

Now he’s wrapped himself

in a trenchcoat of black-cloud darkness.

But his cloud-brightness bursts through,

spraying hailstones and fireballs.

ThenGodthundered out of heaven;

the High God gave a great shout,

spraying hailstones and fireballs.

God shoots his arrows—pandemonium!

He hurls his lightnings—a rout!

The secret sources of ocean are exposed,

the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered

The moment you roar in protest,

let loose your hurricane anger.

16-19 But me he caught—reached all the way

from sky to sea; he pulled me out

Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,

the void in which I was drowning.

They hit me when I was down,

butGodstuck by me.

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

20-24 Godmade my life complete

when I placed all the pieces before him.

When I got my act together,

he gave me a fresh start.

Now I’m alert toGod’s ways;

I don’t take God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works;

I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

and I’m watching my step.

Godrewrote the text of my life

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

25-27 The good people taste your goodness,

The whole people taste your health,

The true people taste your truth,

The bad ones can’t figure you out.

You take the side of the down-and-out,

But the stuck-up you take down a peg.

28-29 Suddenly,God, you floodlight my life;

I’m blazing with glory, God’s glory!

I smash the bands of marauders,

I vault the highest fences.

30 What a God! His road

stretches straight and smooth.

EveryGod-direction is road-tested.

Everyone who runs toward him

Makes it.

31-42 Is there any god likeGod?

Are we not at bedrock?

Is not this the God who armed me,

then aimed me in the right direction?

Now I run like a deer;

I’m king of the mountain.

He shows me how to fight;

I can bend a bronze bow!

You protect me with salvation-armor;

you hold me up with a firm hand,

caress me with your gentle ways.

You cleared the ground under me

so my footing was firm.

When I chased my enemies I caught them;

I didn’t let go till they were dead men.

I nailed them; they were down for good;

then I walked all over them.

You armed me well for this fight,

you smashed the upstarts.

You made my enemies turn tail,

and I wiped out the haters.

They cried “uncle”

but Uncle didn’t come;

They yelled forGod

and got no for an answer.

I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.

I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.

43-45 You rescued me from a squabbling people;

you made me a leader of nations.

People I’d never heard of served me;

the moment they got wind of me they listened.

The foreign devils gave up; they came

on their bellies, crawling from their hideouts.

46-48 Live,God! Blessings from my Rock,

my free and freeing God, towering!

This God set things right for me

and shut up the people who talked back.

He rescued me from enemy anger,

he pulled me from the grip of upstarts,

He saved me from the bullies.

49-50 That’s why I’m thanking you,God,

all over the world.

That’s why I’m singing songs

that rhyme your name.

God’s king takes the trophy;

God’s chosen is beloved.

I mean David and all his children—

always.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/18-040e6b214600166165ace7789fcb2054.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,

God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.

Madame Day holds classes every morning,

Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,

their voices aren’t recorded,

But their silence fills the earth:

unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome

for the sun—a superdome!

The morning sun’s a new husband

leaping from his honeymoon bed,

The daybreaking sun an athlete

racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies

from sunrise to sunset,

Melting ice, scorching deserts,

warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation ofGodis whole

and pulls our lives together.

The signposts ofGodare clear

and point out the right road.

The life-maps ofGodare right,

showing the way to joy.

The directions ofGodare plain

and easy on the eyes.

God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,

with a lifetime guarantee.

The decisions ofGodare accurate

down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,

better than a diamond set between emeralds.

You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,

better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger

and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way?

Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins,

from thinking I can take over your work;

Then I can start this day sun-washed,

scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

These are the words in my mouth;

these are what I chew on and pray.

Accept them when I place them

on the morning altar,

O God, my Altar-Rock,

God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/19-c219964dda407b294c2be8934b214b63.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-4 Godanswer you on the day you crash,

The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm’s reach,

Send reinforcements from Holy Hill,

Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,

Exclaim over your offerings,

Celebrate your sacrifices,

Give you what your heart desires,

Accomplish your plans.

5 When you win, we plan to raise the roof

and lead the parade with our banners.

May all your wishes come true!

6 That clinches it—help’s coming,

an answer’s on the way,

everything’s going to work out.

7-8 See those people polishing their chariots,

and those others grooming their horses?

But we’re making garlands forGodour God.

The chariots will rust,

those horses pull up lame—

and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

9 Make the king a winner,God;

the day we call, give us your answer.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/20-b057ba18d5bfa2cc36d8ffc2f683ed49.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 God, God . . . my God!

Why did you dump me

miles from nowhere?

Doubled up with pain, I call to God

all the day long. No answer. Nothing.

I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.

3-5 And you! Are you indifferent, above it all,

leaning back on the cushions of Israel’s praise?

We know you were there for our parents:

they cried for your help and you gave it;

they trusted and lived a good life.

6-8 And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm,

something to step on, to squash.

Everyone pokes fun at me;

they make faces at me, they shake their heads:

“Let’s see howGodhandles this one;

since God likes him so much, lethimhelp him!”

9-11 And to think you were midwife at my birth,

setting me at my mother’s breasts!

When I left the womb you cradled me;

since the moment of birth you’ve been my God.

Then you moved far away

and trouble moved in next door.

I need a neighbor.

12-13 Herds of bulls come at me,

the raging bulls stampede,

Horns lowered, nostrils flaring,

like a herd of buffalo on the move.

14-15 I’m a bucket kicked over and spilled,

every joint in my body has been pulled apart.

My heart is a blob

of melted wax in my gut.

I’m dry as a bone,

my tongue black and swollen.

They have laid me out for burial

in the dirt.

16-18 Now packs of wild dogs come at me;

thugs gang up on me.

They pin me down hand and foot,

and lock me in a cage—a bag

Of bones in a cage, stared at

by every passerby.

They take my wallet and the shirt off my back,

and then throw dice for my clothes.

19-21 You,God—don’t put off my rescue!

Hurry and help me!

Don’t let them cut my throat;

don’t let those mongrels devour me.

If you don’t show up soon,

I’m done for—gored by the bulls,

meat for the lions.

22-24 Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship,

and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:

Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;

give glory, you sons of Jacob;

adore him, you daughters of Israel.

He has never let you down,

never looked the other way

when you were being kicked around.

He has never wandered off to do his own thing;

he has been right there, listening.

25-26 Here in this great gathering for worship

I have discovered this praise-life.

And I’ll do what I promised right here

in front of the God-worshipers.

Down-and-outers sit atGod’s table

and eat their fill.

Everyone on the hunt for God

is here, praising him.

“Live it up, from head to toe.

Don’t ever quit!”

27-28 From the four corners of the earth

people are coming to their senses,

are running back toGod.

Long-lost families

are falling on their faces before him.

Godhas taken charge;

from now on he has the last word.

29 All the power-mongers are before him

—worshiping!

All the poor and powerless, too

—worshiping!

Along with those who never got it together

—worshiping!

30-31 Our children and their children

will get in on this

As the word is passed along

from parent to child.

Babies not yet conceived

will hear the good news—

that God does what he says.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/22-da8bf372d0a66cc42f5a9353cad13c8c.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-3 God, my shepherd!

I don’t need a thing.

You have bedded me down in lush meadows,

you find me quiet pools to drink from.

True to your word,

you let me catch my breath

and send me in the right direction.

4 Even when the way goes through

Death Valley,

I’m not afraid

when you walk at my side.

Your trusty shepherd’s crook

makes me feel secure.

5 You serve me a six-course dinner

right in front of my enemies.

You revive my drooping head;

my cup brims with blessing.

6 Your beauty and love chase after me

every day of my life.

I’m back home in the house ofGod

for the rest of my life.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/23-449f2eaccfe872f796ace6ce4307e036.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 Godclaims Earth and everything in it,

Godclaims World and all who live on it.

He built it on Ocean foundations,

laid it out on River girders.

3-4 Who can climb MountGod?

Who can scale the holy north-face?

Only the clean-handed,

only the pure-hearted;

Men who won’t cheat,

women who won’t seduce.

5-6 Godis at their side;

withGod’s help they make it.

This, Jacob, is what happens

to God-seekers, God-questers.

7 Wake up, you sleepyhead city!

Wake up, you sleepyhead people!

King-Glory is ready to enter.

8 Who is this King-Glory?

God, armed

and battle-ready.

9 Wake up, you sleepyhead city!

Wake up, you sleepyhead people!

King-Glory is ready to enter.

10 Who is this King-Glory?

God-of-the-Angel-Armies:

he is King-Glory.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/24-32f8a581264402d72d34b836bf7d550a.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1-2 My head is high,God, held high;

I’m looking to you,God;

No hangdog skulking for me.

3 I’ve thrown in my lot with you;

You won’t embarrass me, will you?

Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us

Who went out on a limb for you.

It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

4 Show me how you work,God;

School me in your ways.

5 Take me by the hand;

Lead me down the path of truth.

You are my Savior, aren’t you?

6 Mark the milestones of your mercy and love,God;

Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

7 Forget that I sowed wild oats;

Mark me with your sign of love.

Plan only the best for me,God!

8 Godis fair and just;

He corrects the misdirected,

Sends them in the right direction.

9 He gives the rejects his hand,

And leads them step-by-step.

10 From now on every road you travel

Will take you toGod.

Follow the Covenant signs;

Read the charted directions.

11 Keep up your reputation,God;

Forgive my bad life;

It’s been a very bad life.

12 My question: What are God-worshipers like?

Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye.

13 They settle down in a promising place;

Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

14 God-friendship is for God-worshipers;

They are the ones he confides in.

15 If I keep my eyes onGod,

I won’t trip over my own feet.

16 Look at me and help me!

I’m all alone and in big trouble.

17 My heart and kidneys are fighting each other;

Call a truce to this civil war.

18 Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,

Then lift this ton of sin.

19 Do you see how many people

Have it in for me?

How viciously they hate me?

20 Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;

Don’t let me down when I run to you.

21 Use all your skill to put me together;

I wait to see your finished product.

22 God, give your people a break

From this run of bad luck.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/25-87bea434ab2184dbbf60a84b6fac4ac2.mp3?version_id=97—

A David Psalm

1 Clear my name,God;

I’ve kept an honest shop.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you,God, and

I’m not budging.

2 Examine me,God, from head to foot,

order your battery of tests.

Make sure I’m fit

inside and out

3 So I never lose

sight of your love,

But keep in step with you,

never missing a beat.

4-5 I don’t hang out with tricksters,

I don’t pal around with thugs;

I hate that pack of gangsters,

I don’t deal with double-dealers.

6-7 I scrub my hands with purest soap,

then join hands with the others in the great circle,

dancing around your altar,God,

Singing God-songs at the top of my lungs,

telling God-stories.

8-10 God, I love living with you;

your house glows with your glory.

When it’s time for spring cleaning,

don’t sweep me out with the quacks and crooks,

Men with bags of dirty tricks,

women with purses stuffed with bribe-money.

11-12 You know I’ve been aboveboard with you;

now be aboveboard with me.

I’m on the level with you,God;

I bless you every chance I get.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/PSA/26-8cd3ec26b6b40091fada3dc3c05fd990.mp3?version_id=97—