The Message: Psalms

by Eugene H. Peterson

The ancient hymns, poems, and prayers found in the Psalms teach us how to communicate with God. As Eugene Peterson writes, this book "gives us a language adequate for responding to the God who speaks to us."

Translated directly from the original Hebrew, the Psalms come alive in the heart-stirring words of The Message.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Poetry, Religion, Devotional, Spirituality, Church

199 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 1994

About the author

Eugene H. Peterson was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. For many years he was James M. Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also served as founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland. He had written over thirty books, including Gold Medallion Book Award winner The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language a contemporary translation of the Bible. After retiring from full-time teaching, Eugene and his wife Jan lived in the Big Sky Country of rural Montana. He died in October 2018.

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Peterson has done good work elsewhere, but this kind of thing is really problematic. The Psalms are one of the poetic glories of human civilization, but this rendering is just casual, breezy, and cliche-ridden. Like going to a reception at Buckingham Palace in gym shorts and flip flops.

[Jim Teggelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earthy, emotive, idiomatic translation of the Psalms. Wonderful.

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, Peterson's unique translation opens your eyes to the glory of the Psalms, and his poetry makes you ponder a truth anew in a powerful way.

However, the Psalms (and most Hebrew poetry) is terse. Peterson's extra adjectives and adverbs remove that tight brevity. Also, comparing it to more literal translations, sometimes his translations take verbs and entirely different way, (ex. "You did..." vs. "You will..."). As someone well versed with one of these translations (eSV), having many of the rhythm of its Psalms and rhythms ingrained in my head and soul made reading the Message sometimes off.

So I'm mixed. Peterson's way with words was and is unparallel in contemporary popular evangelical and Protestant discourse. The Message is a marvel, and it's haters are misguided 75% of the time. Reading this will bring new insights and renew devotion, but it may seem off for some.

[Heather Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The size of this book makes it easy to tuck into a purse or backpack. The psalms written in contemporary language brings a new twist to ancient words.

[Debra Slonek · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the meaning of Psalms? The Psalms are prayers, written as poetry and songs. The contemporary language of this translation gave me a fresh look and experience as I read through the book of Psalms.

Some of the Psalms were written to express anger and frustration and others to express deep lament and anguish. Others still, express glorious worship, thanksgiving and joy.

Even though the Psalms were written so very long ago, they are so very relevant today, especially with everything that is currently going on in our world.

I love the way this journaling edition is set up. As you open the book, the left side has the Psalms printed on it. The right side is mostly blank, with occasional prompts to guide you in your journaling, as you journey through the book of Psalms.

This book would be a wonderful tool to enhance your quiet-time with God. It will encourage you to read, reflect, pray and worship.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NavPress through the Amazon Vine Program. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“PSALMS – THE MESSAGE”

The cries of lament are beautifully rephrased and the anger against injustice is expressed in vernacular that I can grasp and heartily agree with.


Psalm 4:7-8
Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.

Psalm 9:9-10 
God’s a safe-house for the battered,
    a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
    you’re never sorry you knocked.

Psalm 10:14 
But you know all about it—
    the contempt, the abuse.
I dare to believe that the luckless
    will get lucky someday in you.
You won’t let them down:
    orphans won’t be orphans forever.

Psalm 17:4-5

I’m not trying to get my way
    in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
    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.

Psalm 18:20-24 
God made 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 to God’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.
God rewrote the text of my life
    when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

Psalm 40:17
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
    make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
    but God, don’t put it off.

Psalm 51:4
You have all the facts before you;
    whatever you decide about me is fair.

Psalm 51:17
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

Psalm 56:12-13
God, you did everything you promised,
    and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death,
    my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
    in the sunlit fields of life.

Psalm 104
You started the springs and rivers,
    sent them flowing among the hills.
All the wild animals now drink their fill,
    wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Along the riverbanks the birds build nests,
    ravens make their voices heard.
You water the mountains from your heavenly cisterns;
    earth is supplied with plenty of water.
You make grass grow for the livestock,
    hay for the animals that plow the ground.


Psalm 111 -
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
....
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
....
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!


Psalm 113
God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies.
….
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt, rescues the wretched who’ve been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests, a place of honor among the brightest and best.

Ps 116:1 - I love God because he listened to me.

Ps 118:1 - Thank God because he’s good, because his love never quits. … I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God’s my strength, he’s also my song, and now he’s my salvation.

v21-25 Thank you for responding to me;
    you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed
    is now the capstone!
This is God’s work.
    We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted—
    let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now!
    Oh yes, God—a free and full life!

Ps 119:
v11 I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
V18-24 I’m a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. … Don’t let them mock and humiliate me; I’ve been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbors!

65-72 …
You are good, and the source of good;
    train me in your goodness.
The godless spread lies about me,
    but I focus my attention on what you are saying;
They’re bland as a bucket of lard,
    while I dance to the tune of your revelation.
My troubles turned out all for the best—
    they forced me to learn from your textbook.
Truth from your mouth means more to me
    than striking it rich in a gold mine.
73-80
I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;
    your testing has taught me what’s true and right.
Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!
    just the way you promised.

83 I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post.

92 If your revelation hadn’t delighted me so,
    I would have given up when the hard times came.
96 I see the limits to everything human,
    but the horizons can’t contain your commands!

114 You’re my place of quiet retreat;
    I wait for your Word to renew me.
116 Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.
    Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.
117 Stick with me and I’ll be all right;
    I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.

121 I stood up for justice and the right;
    don’t leave me to the mercy of my oppressors.

145 I call out at the top of my lungs,
    “God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”
146 I called to you, “Save me
    so I can carry out all your instructions.”
147 I was up before sunrise,
    crying for help, hoping for a word from you.
148 I stayed awake all night,
    prayerfully pondering your promise.
149 In your love, listen to me;
    in your justice, God, keep me alive.
152 Take my side and get me out of this;
    give me back my life, just as you promised.
161 I’ve been slandered unmercifully by the politicians,
    but my awe at your words keeps me stable.
165For those who love what you reveal, everything fits—
    no stumbling around in the dark for them.
168 I follow your directions, abide by your counsel;
    my life’s an open book before you.
175 Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
    use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
176 And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
    I’ll recognize the sound of your voice.

Psalm 121:1- I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
v2 - No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

130: 3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings,
    who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
    and that’s why you’re worshiped.

132 
I’ll shower blessings on the pilgrims who come here,
    and give supper to those who arrive hungry;

133 How wonderful, how beautiful,
    when brothers and sisters get along!

135
13-18 God, your name is eternal,
    God, you’ll never be out-of-date.
God stands up for his people,
    God holds the hands of his people.
The gods of the godless nations are mere trinkets,
    made for quick sale in the markets:
Chiseled mouths that can’t talk,
    painted eyes that can’t see,
Carved ears that can’t hear—
    dead wood! cold metal!
Those who make and trust them
    become like them.


- - - - - - - -

{At times I feel somewhat uncomfortable with Scripture}:
Psalm 136:18-22
Struck down the famous kings,
    His love never quits.
Struck Sihon the Amorite king,
    His love never quits.
Struck Og the Bashanite king,
    His love never quits.
Then distributed their land as booty,
    His love never quits.
Handed the land over to Israel.
    His love never quits.

- - -

Ps 137:9 – Yes, a reward to the one who grabs your babies and smashes their heads on the rocks!

Ps 138:1 - Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”. V8 - Finish what you started in me, God.    Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.

Ps 139
v1-2 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.

V5 I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

Psalm 141
May the Just One set me straight,
    may the Kind One correct me.

Psalm 143
Point out the road I must travel;
    I’m all ears, all eyes before you.

Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;
you never get voted out of office.
- Psalm 145:13

Ps 146:3-4 Don’t put your life in the hands of experts
    who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don’t have what it takes;
    when they die, their projects die with them.

Ps 149:5-7 Let true lovers break out in praise,
    sing out from wherever they’re sitting,
Shout the high praises of God,
    brandish their swords in the wild sword-dance—
A portent of vengeance on the God-defying nations,
    a signal that punishment’s coming,

[Jeffrey Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as weekly reading challenge for my Bible class over the summer break. I really loved the simple and grounded approach taken the psalms. I think it covers a god selection.

The psalms can be studied in many aspects - historical, theological and prophetic. But Petersen strips away the layers to bring us to the psalms at their core - they are prayers of the heart. Petersen teaches us to consider the real person on the other side of the words we are reading. To remember that they are a person living a life not unlike ours, and so he challenges us to follow their example, praying about our inattention, intimidation, trouble, creation, sin, salvation, fear, hate, tears, doubt, death and finally praise.

Edit: My ebook edition did not have the text of the psalms, so this review is about the study notes and not the translation of the psalms themselves

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the diction is often out of date and somtimes cheesy, the Message really does draw the reader closer to the intentionality and experiences of the various authors. It helps us to see that these writers were human and not super-spiritual beings. They had struggles and faults, temptations and sins. Every range of emotion is expressed. At the end of it all, they return to worship. No matter how difficult life was, worship of God was the means, relationship with God was the means of their hope. That is not to say they all end happy.

The Message helps us see these things more easily. It brings the poetry down to earth, makes it more relatable and in the end helps us access God in a new way.

[Aaron White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Psalms and read/pray them through most months. The Message version is tricky. There are some very good pieces that open up the meaning, but much of the beauty is lost in the attempt to make things up to date: and up to date quickly becomes not up to date as well.

[antony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of my favourite book this year. I love the Message translation and I love the Psalms and here they are both together.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

this may be my own fault but the modern language really threw me off most of the time. (I'm reading the kjv also) but overall i liked the translation it was interesting.

[BJ]

Love so much of Peterson's writings.

But this paraphrase including Proverbs, except for a few exceptions, I did not enjoy.

[Kevin Casto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh view of the Psalms

[Ian Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dip into this often and it's a beautiful experience to dive in!

[Gregory Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Bible reading plan had me go through the Psalms twice. From January to June, I used the HCB, and for July through December I used The Message. While this is a paraphrase, it is fascinating how Peterson takes a modern view and linguistic to ancient songs. In reading them, I heard a modern voice speaking about timeless issues, of hurt, abandonment, pain, joy, worship, and adoration. This year I will be reading through the New Testament multiple times, and the Message will be one of those times.

[Tony Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I started reading Peterson's take on perhaps the greatest collection of poetry ever, I found the language to be unique and refreshing and satisfying. By the time I reached Psalm 72, I found it redundant and stale. I admire his thorough effort to dig into the Psalms and translate them into a modern vernacular. But, The Message does not express the invigorating Good News that other translations do so well.

[P. Upshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful GOD inspired Psalms

This Message translation of the Psalms showed them in a new way. They have always been some of my favorite verses, with the comfort of the 23rd, especially. The David psalms are even more understandable and beautiful in this translation. It has joined my daily devotionals and I hope to read and enjoy them again and again.

[Scott Patton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This version of the psalms is so paraphrased the they lose their poetic rhythm.