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!