1A David psalm God, God... my God! Why did you dump me miles from nowhere?
2Doubled up with pain, I call to God all the day long. No answer. Nothing. I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.
3And you! Are you indifferent, above it all, leaning back on the cushions of Israel's praise?
4We know you were there for our parents:
5they cried for your help and you gave it; they trusted and lived a good life.
6And here I am, a nothing—an earthworm, something to step on, to squash.
7Everyone pokes fun at me; they make faces at me, they shake their heads:
8"Let's see how God handles this one; since God likes him so much, let him help him!"
9And to think you were midwife at my birth, setting me at my mother's breasts!
10When I left the womb you cradled me; since the moment of birth you've been my God.
11Then you moved far away and trouble moved in next-door. I need a neighbor.
12Herds of bulls come at me, the raging bulls stampede,
13Horns lowered, nostrils flaring, like a herd of buffalo on the move.
14I'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.
15I'm dry as a bone, my tongue black and swollen. They have laid me out for burial in the dirt.
16Now packs of wild dogs come at me; thugs gang up on me. They pin me down hand and foot,
17and lock me in a cage—a bag Of bones in a cage, stared at by every passerby.
18They take my wallet and the shirt off my back, and then throw dice for my clothes.
19You, God—don't put off my rescue! Hurry and help me!
20Don't let them cut my throat; don't let those mongrels devour me.
21If you don't show up soon, I'm done for—gored by the bulls, meat for the lions.
22Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
23Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers; give glory, you sons of Jacob; adore him, you daughters of Israel.
24He 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.
25Here 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.
26Down-and-outers sit at God'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!"
27From the four corners of the earth people are coming to their senses, are running back to God. Long-lost families are falling on their faces before him.
28God has taken charge; from now on he has the last word.
29All the power-mongers are before him —worshiping! All the poor and powerless, too —worshiping! Along with those who never got it together —worshiping!
30Our children and their children will get in on this As the word is passed along from parent to child.
31Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news— that God does what he says.