Psalms

¹ I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened.

² pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip.

³ a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

⁴ turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships;

⁵ 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 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 I read in your letter what you wrote about me,

⁸ you're throwing for me." That's when God's Word entered my life, became part of my very being.

⁹ I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.

¹⁰ 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 don't hold back your passion. Your love and truth are all that keeps me together.

¹² 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 hurry and get me some help,

¹⁴ will be embarrassed and lose face, So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable will be heckled and disgraced,

¹⁵ will be booed and jeered without mercy.

¹⁶ 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 make something of me. You can do it; you've got what it takes— but God, don't put it off.