Psalms 3; Psalms 4; Psalms 12; Psalms 13; Psalms 28; Psalms 55

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Psalms 3

1 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
2 Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery: "Hah! No help for him from God!"
3 But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
4 With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.
5 I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I'm up again - rested, tall and steady,
6 Fearless before the enemy mobs Coming at me from all sides.
7 Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, First this cheek, then the other, Your fist hard in their teeth!
8 Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!
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.

Psalms 4

1 When I call, give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room; Now I'm in trouble again: grace me! hear me!
2 You rabble - how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies? How long will you live crazed by illusion?
3 Look at this: look Who got picked by God! He listens the split second I call to him.
4 Complain if you must, but don't lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
5 Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.
6 Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say. "More, more." I have God's more-than-enough,
7 More joy in one ordinary day Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
8 At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together.
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.

Psalms 12

1 Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, All the friends I depended on gone.
2 Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues.
3 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull The braggart tongues from their mouths!
4 I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world."
5 Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
6 God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
7 God, keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
8 From the wicked who collect honors For their wonderful lies.
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.

Psalms 13

1 Long enough, God - you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head
2 Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.
3 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye,
4 So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.
5 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue.
6 I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers.
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.

Psalms 28

1 Don't turn a deaf ear when I call you, God. If all I get from you is deafening silence, I'd be better off in the Black Hole.
2 I'm letting you know what I need, calling out for help And lifting my arms toward your inner sanctum.
3 Don't shove me into the same jail cell with those crooks, With those who are full-time employees of evil.
4 They talk a good line of "peace," then moonlight for the Devil. Pay them back for what they've done, for how bad they've been. Pay them back for their long hours in the Devil's workshop; Then cap it with a huge bonus.
5 Because they have no idea how God works or what he is up to, God will smash them to smithereens and walk away from the ruins.
6 Blessed be God - he heard me praying.
7 He proved he's on my side; I've thrown my lot in with him. Now I'm jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him.
8 God is all strength for his people, ample refuge for his chosen leader;
9 Save your people and bless your heritage. Care for them; carry them like a good shepherd.
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.

Psalms 55

1 Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don't pretend you don't hear me knocking.
2 Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you.
3 at the mean voice, quail before the evil eye, As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander.
4 My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down.
5 I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot.
6 "Who will give me wings," I ask - "wings like a dove?" Get me out of here on dove wings;
7 I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country,
8 I want a cabin in the woods. I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather.
9 Come down hard, Lord - slit their tongues. I'm appalled how they've split the city Into rival gangs prowling the alleys
10 Day and night spoiling for a fight, trash piled in the streets,
11 Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating in broad daylight.
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.
13 It's you! We grew up together! You! My best friend!
14 Those long hours of leisure as we walked arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell - let them experience the horror, let them feel every desolate detail of a damned life.
16 I call to God; God will help me.
17 At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs - he hears, he rescues.
18 My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against 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.
20 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends; his life betrayed his word.
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.
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.
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.
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.