Psalm 14

 Foolish hearts insist there is no God.

Rotten characters rape and bribe,

no one is good. God is looking:

is anyone looking for God?

Does anybody understand?

No, all are headstrong, none do right.

Arrogant critics, can’t You see?

You are swallowing up people

and thereby disrespecting God!

Dread will overwhelm You because

Holy Advocate stands with victims.

Though crooks bulldoze poor people’s dreams

God’s live word resurrects vision,

spurs actions toward Earth’s Renewal!

Let the festive singing begin.

Psalm 13

 Mercy, God, how much longer?

When, if ever, will we see You?

When will global conflict end?

How long will horrors persist?

Do You realise our confusion?

Let us see You; help us know You.

Otherwise we sink and drown while

gloaters smile to see us flounder.

But we trust Your loving power,

your provision keeps us joyful,

overflowing with new love songs.

Thank You, divine ever-close Friend.

Psalm 12

 God, help! No one is faithful.

Humans cannot be trusted,

everyone’s words are empty—

bloated untruths, glazed with sweet talk.

God, please seal flattering mouths.

Mute minds that boast “We always

win with words—who can stymie us?”

Messiah, keep the promises.

You hear needy people’s groans,

You will stop thieves of poor folks.

Your Words gleam like sun on ice,

Pure as baby’s first teardrops.

Love, safeguard hassled people,

extricate us from rat-racers

who parade degradation.

Psalm 11

 We are safe here with You, God.

Why this fearful urge to flee?

We see danger and evil

spiralling—bombs, hijackings,

crumbling buildings—what to do?

You preside in Holy Splendour

shining through all Creation’s facets.

You observe every person closely,

prove our intentions sullied or pure.

You will brand violent people,

fiery guilt pangs will consume them,

Great Spirit will sweep them away.

God, You are good. You love justice.

You will guide us to face Your love.

Psalm 10

 Why the seeming chasm between us?

God, can You see how much we need You?

Prideful hustlers prey on poor families,

they flaunt obscene lifestyles, kiss up to

landlords, warlords; they curse You, despise

your law. Fat-cats brag “Nothing scares us.”

Bigwigs talk big, pile on threats and lies.

Cronies bully women, hurt children,

safety nets are severed while dragnets

keep ensnaring innocent weaklings.

Sneaky thieves assume You are blind, God.

Heaven, hear and rescue beaten ones.

Why permit perpetrators’ curses

with boasts that You will never judge them?

All-Seeing One, You see the suffering!

Weigh each groan and teardrop, for victims

depend on You. Break evildoers’

power, call them to account. Divine

Judge, You rule the Universe in Peace,

violent empires have no future.

Loving God, You draw close to those who

yearn for shelter, water, food, freedom.

You move us to care, to encourage,

to advocate for abandoned ones.

No more fear of humans or demons.

Psalm 9

 With heart-driven poems we long to praise You.

Celebrating Your astounding actions

we rejoice in Your majestic presence.

May our songs trumpet Your supreme honour.

Accusers give up their case against us,

stunned to face You, Defender of Justice.

Divine One, do You devastate nations

and decimate vengeful, vicious people?

All-Viewing One, You always judge justly,

shelter outcasts, safeguard troubled masses.

God, to know You is to trust You, the One

Who never turns from those who look for You.

You remember and punish bloodshed,

never overlook mistreated people.

God, look on us today in Your Mercy,

draw us from the panicked brink of despair.

May we freely publicise Your Kindness,

thriving in Your Ever-Living power.

Let God-denying regimes self-destruct,

lost in labyrinths designed to trap others.

Your Justice is famous. Wily leaders

who forget You die and are forgotten.

You never forget one needy person

but offer Hope to each soul that suffers.

Psalm 8

 Your Excellency! Cosmos Creator,

Celestial King: babies sound Your praises,

children’s chanting shames Your foes to silence.

God Whose fingers flung out planets and spun

myriad galaxies into orbit.

Do mere humans merit Your attention?

Do You honour us almost as angels?

You adorn our lives with Glorious Purpose

to tend life on land, in air and water.

God, Your Majesty! Holy Creator!

Psalm 7

 God Alive, our Hideout: Strong Love,

rescue us from haters’ talons.

If we have betrayed our families

or even have loathed enemies,

our defeat may be well-deserved.

God, overcome our blind anger

by Your Calm, Straightforward Judgment.

Rise, preside, and vindicate us.

Wise One, You see our true motives.

Halt all violent endeavours,

guard each truthful, peaceful spirit.

Your Passionate Justice awes us.

Mischief plotters hatch mere bubbles,

trouble-makers drown in trouble.

Thank You, Proactive Advocate,

All praise to You, God Majestic.

Psalm 6

Holy One, please do not scold

or treat us harshly.

God, I am exhausted,

heal her aching body,

lift his beaten spirit.

Will Your Love revive us?

How? When? Must we die first?

Sleepless, always weeping,

tired of grieving, we are

sick to death of fights.

 

Psalm 5

Unseen one, hear me crying “Help!”

God, can You understand my sobs?

Every morning You receive us,

offering up ourselves in worship,

hopeful, eager for Your Spirit.

Surly people gain no access

but humble love impels approach,

we kneel awestruck in joyous praise.

Guide us, Spirit, past attackers,

all their words reek with hatred.

God, please cause their schemes to backfire.

Let those who know You gladly sing,

under Your Assault-proof Cover

may Your loving ones enjoy You.

Life with You is Carefree, Wondrous!

We’re Refreshed, Embraced, Protected.

 

Psalm 4

 God? God, can I get a reply?

See me boxed in, calling, calling.

When will You end people’s mocking,

smoking pipe-dreams, fetish worship?

God, You called us to Your service,

Loving one, we know You hear us.

Now in awe I let go anger,

probe my motives, wait in silence.

People strive for fame, for money,

let Your Smile be my fulfilment.

Joy from You exceeds all measures,

rest is safe, serene my slumber.

Psalm 3

God! Hundreds of adversaries!

Thousands versus only me…us?

Holy Fire, Divine Protector,

keep me shining; buoy our spirits.

From Your wide, high, unbiased View

we trust You will answer our cries.

Every night I sleep serenely;

each new dawn brings Your renewing.

Stalwart angel warriors dispel

worry, dread, every doom carrier.

Holy Master of Tenderness,

free us from cycling avengers.

Void their careless, spiteful lashes,

make them bite their own word bullets.

God, You are our Liberator,

keep us Joyful, ever Peaceful.

Psalm 2

 World leaders, why presume?

 How dare figureheads flaunt selves, 

tout isms, defying the Transcendent One?

Listen, posturing technocrats!

Holy Love laughs sadly. 

Listen! Shiver under God’s displeasure.

Hear God name Creation’s Ruler,

empowering Peace’s Prince 

to topple regimes and pulverise shackles.

Kings, presidents, come and kneel now.

Love and serve with Servant Master,

always radiant, always at Peace.

Psalm 1

 Happy ones ignore talking heads;

Glad souls repel liars,

never befriend jabbing jokers.

Rather they savour Live Words at all hours,

like river-irrigated forests 

God-freshened, Joyous Peace-seekers thrive.

What of God-denouncers?

Hapless dust-balls, self-made justifiers—

hopeless, ruthless, they are devoid of trust.

God Who sees all knows who is Just.

Violence blinds and self-destructs.