1. Govern me, Strong and Supreme God, and defend me before those who are not religious, kind or courteous. Slip me away from those who are false and distorted.
2. My Supreme, Strong God and Defender, why do I feel You are failing me or letting me go? Why am I so distressed because of those who are hostile to me?
3. Let Your happiness and trustworthiness transport me into Your sacred, uplifting Presence where You reside.
4. Then I will come into agreement with the Almighty God who loves me to be in His presence. With music I will dance with intense emotions while lifting my hands to You in worship, O my Supreme God.
5. Why do you sink down in depression, O Self? Why is there so much tumult and clamor inside? Be patient and hope in my Supreme God. I will continue to raise my hands in worship to Him who delivers me, makes me joyful and is MY God.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Psalm 42
1. A teaching poem written for the Levitical family of Korah.
As the male is passionate for a female, so am I passionate for You, my Creator.
2. My whole being craves to see God. Oh! how soon can that happen?
3. Yet while I have intense heart longings, even with tears, folks keep asking me "Would God treat you this way?" or "Where is your God?"
4. When I think about those who asked me these questions it really frustrates me. Why? Well, I had reverently worshiped in church with them, I had sung with them in festival choirs and I had participated with them in processions of praise celebrating God's goodness.
5. Why am I so depressed, then? Why is my heart in such commotion? I choose to be patient and wait for God's will. I will continue to lift my hands in praise to the Creator God for setting me free and giving me victory by looking upon me.
6. Almighty God, I do get discouraged. But I am choosing to think about you and make mention of You to others, both when I am 'down and out' and when I get excited or elated over situations or things.
7. Your power surges over and around me like huge ocean waves.
8. Yet You, Eternal Creator, are kind and courteous all the time. Even in adversity Your songs encourage me and hymns about You revive me.
9. - 10. When I get discouraged I ask God, "Have You forgotten me?" Why do I get so oppressed by those who don't like me. They cramp, crush and defame me while taunting me with "Where is Your God?"
11. Why am I so depressed? Why is my heart in such a tumult? I choose to agree with the Almighty God. I lift my open hands in reverent worship to Him and focus on what He is really like, for He is the One who saves me, delivers me and makes me victorious!
As the male is passionate for a female, so am I passionate for You, my Creator.
2. My whole being craves to see God. Oh! how soon can that happen?
3. Yet while I have intense heart longings, even with tears, folks keep asking me "Would God treat you this way?" or "Where is your God?"
4. When I think about those who asked me these questions it really frustrates me. Why? Well, I had reverently worshiped in church with them, I had sung with them in festival choirs and I had participated with them in processions of praise celebrating God's goodness.
5. Why am I so depressed, then? Why is my heart in such commotion? I choose to be patient and wait for God's will. I will continue to lift my hands in praise to the Creator God for setting me free and giving me victory by looking upon me.
6. Almighty God, I do get discouraged. But I am choosing to think about you and make mention of You to others, both when I am 'down and out' and when I get excited or elated over situations or things.
7. Your power surges over and around me like huge ocean waves.
8. Yet You, Eternal Creator, are kind and courteous all the time. Even in adversity Your songs encourage me and hymns about You revive me.
9. - 10. When I get discouraged I ask God, "Have You forgotten me?" Why do I get so oppressed by those who don't like me. They cramp, crush and defame me while taunting me with "Where is Your God?"
11. Why am I so depressed? Why is my heart in such a tumult? I choose to agree with the Almighty God. I lift my open hands in reverent worship to Him and focus on what He is really like, for He is the One who saves me, delivers me and makes me victorious!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Psalm 41
1. Music from David for the permanent collection.
The Creator God will preserve the person who carefully considers the needs of those who are feeble and weak, particularly when he faces his own difficulties.
2. The Self-Existent One will support, comfort and keep him alive. God won't allow those who hate him to have their way against him.
3. Jehovah will support him when he is repulsive to others. He will change the circumstances when he gets worn, weak and anxious.
4. I said, "Creator, be moved to favor me and refresh me; I have missed Your will."
5. Those who hate me speak bad about me. "When is he going to die and people forget who he was and what he was really like?
6. When he comes to visit me his words are useless and more like a tempest. He collects what he thinks is trouble so that when he leaves he can tell others about it.
7. The who hate me get together to mumble magical spells against me. They fabricate the spells, plotting to hurt me.
8. They say, "An destructive spell is on him and now that he is down he won't get up,"
9. Even my covenant friend who I had confidence in and who had often eaten with me, betrayed me.
10. Self-Existent One, bend down in kindness to me as to an inferior. Then raise me up, so I can be safe of them.
11. I see that you favor me and are pleased with me because you didn't allow those who have been hostile toward me to get the better of me.
12. And as for me, You follow close to me and keep me close to you for ever.
13. Kneel before the Creator who is Almighty God of the overcomers forever.
So be it, and Amen.
The Creator God will preserve the person who carefully considers the needs of those who are feeble and weak, particularly when he faces his own difficulties.
2. The Self-Existent One will support, comfort and keep him alive. God won't allow those who hate him to have their way against him.
3. Jehovah will support him when he is repulsive to others. He will change the circumstances when he gets worn, weak and anxious.
4. I said, "Creator, be moved to favor me and refresh me; I have missed Your will."
5. Those who hate me speak bad about me. "When is he going to die and people forget who he was and what he was really like?
6. When he comes to visit me his words are useless and more like a tempest. He collects what he thinks is trouble so that when he leaves he can tell others about it.
7. The who hate me get together to mumble magical spells against me. They fabricate the spells, plotting to hurt me.
8. They say, "An destructive spell is on him and now that he is down he won't get up,"
9. Even my covenant friend who I had confidence in and who had often eaten with me, betrayed me.
10. Self-Existent One, bend down in kindness to me as to an inferior. Then raise me up, so I can be safe of them.
11. I see that you favor me and are pleased with me because you didn't allow those who have been hostile toward me to get the better of me.
12. And as for me, You follow close to me and keep me close to you for ever.
13. Kneel before the Creator who is Almighty God of the overcomers forever.
So be it, and Amen.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Psalm 39
1. A peom/song written by David for Israel's permanent music collection.
I said "I will guard my actions and be very careful of any comments I make when those who are abusive and violate others are in my presence."
2. I quit making even good comments - which gave me grief as well.
3. But just thinking about problems and complaining about them to myself stressed me out so much I finally started talking again.
4. Creator God, empower me to recognize my limitations as well as what I can yet accomplish in life, so I can understand my shortcomings.
5. Whoa! You gave me a 'handful' of days, so to speak. My whole lifetime is practically 'nothing' to You. The best a person is and does is at best transitory.
6. What a person does is like a shadow. They get uptight over just about nothing, they try to accumulate lots of 'things', but don't really know who will end up with them.
7. My Sovereign, what is in my future? I wait in You.
8. Snatch me away from anything that causes me to break away from You. Don't let me be disgraced by those who have already been stupid and fallen away.
9. I didn't say anything because of what You did.
10. Stop afflicting me, for I am about finished off by your power.
11. When you correct and instruct a person who has been crooked, beauty shrinks and disappears and everyone becomes empty.
12. Creator God, Hear my intense prayer song. Don't be silent when I - who am more like a stranger or temporary guest - weep.
13. Have compassion on me so I recover strength before my life ends.
I said "I will guard my actions and be very careful of any comments I make when those who are abusive and violate others are in my presence."
2. I quit making even good comments - which gave me grief as well.
3. But just thinking about problems and complaining about them to myself stressed me out so much I finally started talking again.
4. Creator God, empower me to recognize my limitations as well as what I can yet accomplish in life, so I can understand my shortcomings.
5. Whoa! You gave me a 'handful' of days, so to speak. My whole lifetime is practically 'nothing' to You. The best a person is and does is at best transitory.
6. What a person does is like a shadow. They get uptight over just about nothing, they try to accumulate lots of 'things', but don't really know who will end up with them.
7. My Sovereign, what is in my future? I wait in You.
8. Snatch me away from anything that causes me to break away from You. Don't let me be disgraced by those who have already been stupid and fallen away.
9. I didn't say anything because of what You did.
10. Stop afflicting me, for I am about finished off by your power.
11. When you correct and instruct a person who has been crooked, beauty shrinks and disappears and everyone becomes empty.
12. Creator God, Hear my intense prayer song. Don't be silent when I - who am more like a stranger or temporary guest - weep.
13. Have compassion on me so I recover strength before my life ends.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Psalm 38
1. A poem song written by David to remember. O Self-Existent One, don't nag me about how good You are, or correct me with an outburst of rage or intense anger.
2. - 3. Like arrows, conviction settles deep into my heart and I get totally stressed out as You come near to show me where I have missed Your will for my life.
4. Where I have gone wrong overwhelms me as being stupid, dull and way overdone.
5. - 6. I became fascinated in casting spells but I only hurt myself - for they dwindled and vanished. That foolishness is now offensive to me, yet it depresses me all the time.
7. My stomach has 'shrunk'. My whole body (even my sex drive) is messed up.
8. I feel very sluggish - even to the point of collapsing. I moan because of the snarling, growling and contention going on inside of me.
(Prayer to God)
9. Sovereign Lord, You know what will really satisfy and delight me. You also already know everything about what I have just described.
10. I am shaky, weak, and can't even 'see straight' anymore.
11. My friends and co-workers don't like to be around me anymore and can't understand what is wrong with me. Even my family keeps their distance from me.
12. Those who have wanted to hurt me make up stories and spread gossip all the time.
13. -14. I acted as if I were deaf, not hearing what they were saying; and I have acted dumb, not answering them or arguing with them in an attempt to justify or refute what they said.
15. O Self-Existent One, I hope in You - my Supreme God who pays attention to me.
16. Of others I said, "They will find something to twist up and make fun of me about."
17. For I am ready to fall and I grieve and feel sorry for what I did all the time.
18. I choose to acknowledge my perversity. I am sorry where I offended God.
19. But those who are hostile and hate me are strong and there are lots of them.
20. Those who give evil for good are my enemies. I follow - yes, run after - the good.
21. Don't let go of me, my Creator: Almighty God, don't even go very far from me.
22. Please! hurry and eagerly surround me, My Sovereign ruler, my Rescuer.
2. - 3. Like arrows, conviction settles deep into my heart and I get totally stressed out as You come near to show me where I have missed Your will for my life.
4. Where I have gone wrong overwhelms me as being stupid, dull and way overdone.
5. - 6. I became fascinated in casting spells but I only hurt myself - for they dwindled and vanished. That foolishness is now offensive to me, yet it depresses me all the time.
7. My stomach has 'shrunk'. My whole body (even my sex drive) is messed up.
8. I feel very sluggish - even to the point of collapsing. I moan because of the snarling, growling and contention going on inside of me.
(Prayer to God)
9. Sovereign Lord, You know what will really satisfy and delight me. You also already know everything about what I have just described.
10. I am shaky, weak, and can't even 'see straight' anymore.
11. My friends and co-workers don't like to be around me anymore and can't understand what is wrong with me. Even my family keeps their distance from me.
12. Those who have wanted to hurt me make up stories and spread gossip all the time.
13. -14. I acted as if I were deaf, not hearing what they were saying; and I have acted dumb, not answering them or arguing with them in an attempt to justify or refute what they said.
15. O Self-Existent One, I hope in You - my Supreme God who pays attention to me.
16. Of others I said, "They will find something to twist up and make fun of me about."
17. For I am ready to fall and I grieve and feel sorry for what I did all the time.
18. I choose to acknowledge my perversity. I am sorry where I offended God.
19. But those who are hostile and hate me are strong and there are lots of them.
20. Those who give evil for good are my enemies. I follow - yes, run after - the good.
21. Don't let go of me, my Creator: Almighty God, don't even go very far from me.
22. Please! hurry and eagerly surround me, My Sovereign ruler, my Rescuer.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Psalm 37
1. Written by David. Don't lose your temper or 'melt down' with passion about those who spoil things or making them good for nothing. Don't get jealous of those who do things to distort reality and truth either.
2. Why? Because they themselves by their choices and actions sooner or later will 'melt down'; be cut off like grass in a yard; wilt and fall away like sickly, dying vegetation.
3. Put your confidence in the Self-Existent One as your power source to do good. This will enable you to permanently live in the land and be taken care of properly by God.
4.As you delight (are soft and pliable) in your relation to the Creator, He will give you what you really want - your heart's true desire.
5. Roll on to (completely give) the Creator the full responsibility for guiding your life. Be confident in Him and He will do what is best - for you and through you.
6. He will reveal how you are right by choosing to accept His covenant, which will also enlighten others about what God's love law is really like and what choosing to be in a love based covenant with Him truly means.
7. Let go of any lies about the Self-Existent One that prevent you from genuinely expressing your love passion for Him - even to the point of whirling around in a dance of excitement in your relationship with Him. Don't get mad or bent out of shape, however, when others prosper by planning and using wrong or deceptive ways to achieve their success.
8. Take a deep breath when you get angry and accept that you have that emotion. But don't lose your temper (get all bent out of shape) and copy the ways of those who spoil and make good for nothing.
9. Those who break up or make things good for nothing will consume (melt down), but those who bind themselves to the Creator will one day occupy this earth, taking the place of those who used to live here.
10. For shortly those who disturb, violate, and be or do wrong will be no more and you will fully understand what happened to them and why they are no longer around.
11. Those who gently and willingly agree with the Creator will live in the earth and delight in the abundant peace provided through God's love covenant with them.
12. Some people plot to disturb the peace of those who are right. They work hard (especially with sharp words) to make them as miserable as possible.
13. But my Sovereign Lord laughs at them for He knows their future.
14. Those who do wrong use all their resources to desolate and destroy. They set traps for the destitute, to try to get them to fall from being right in their life course.
15. Their parching and destructive actions, however, will so affect themselves that their strength will break and burst.
16. The value of few possessions while being right with God far exceeds the stress and unhappiness experienced by those who violate and abuse others.
17. The destructive force of abusers will loses power sooner or later; but the Creator holds on to those who choose His right will.
18. God knows what is happening even now to those who agree with Him, and His plans include an awesome inheritance for them that will last forever.
19. With God's inheritance waiting for them, God's family won't get discouraged when times get 'bad'. Even when food gets in short supply God takes care of them.
20. But abusers will sooner or later lose - like burning fat they will go up in smoke.
21. Those who borrow but don't return are wrong, but God's family shares resources.
22. God's inheritance for His family includes living on this earth. Ignoring God's covenant by choosing another will or way will result in nothing - not even a life.
23. God has plans for His family and they are happy to please God in their life.
24. Even though they may make mistakes, God doesn't cast them out. Instead He holds them up and continues to guide them with His power.
25. From my youth until now I have not seen those who do right and are cleansed by God let go of by Him. Neither have I seen their children begging for food.
26. God's family members prosper by always being kind and staying united.
27. So don't try to spoil others, but rather be pleasant and joyful to keep really living.
28. God's law is love and He doesn't stop protecting those who love Him. But even the families of those who break their covenant with God will consume away.
29. Those who are right with God will permanently occupy the earth and live in places where previous dwellers had been.
30 - 31. Those right with God think and speak wisely, and because God's law of love is in their hearts even their actions are not wrong.
32. But those who are in the wrong intently search for some way to bring God's family members under the power of their incantations or witchcraft spells.
33. The Creator will not give the control of His family to those who are wrong. He will not accept condemnations against those who have chosen to belong to Him.
34. Bind yourself to Your Creator, and by His power in you live the way He chooses for you. He will raise you up and give you an inheritance in the earth. You will see this happen after those who broke His covenant with them are no longer.
35 - 36. I've watched abusers harass and demolish others to supposedly prosper, yet then they disappeared and when I enquired about them later they couldn't be found.
37. Watch those who have accepted God's will and you will see peace in action.
38. But those who break away from God's covenant with them will end in nothing.
39. Those who covenant with the Creator God receive His strength, even in trouble.
40. The Self-Existent One surrounds His family. He will slip them away from their abusers, set them free and keep them safe because they flee to Him for protection.
2. Why? Because they themselves by their choices and actions sooner or later will 'melt down'; be cut off like grass in a yard; wilt and fall away like sickly, dying vegetation.
3. Put your confidence in the Self-Existent One as your power source to do good. This will enable you to permanently live in the land and be taken care of properly by God.
4.As you delight (are soft and pliable) in your relation to the Creator, He will give you what you really want - your heart's true desire.
5. Roll on to (completely give) the Creator the full responsibility for guiding your life. Be confident in Him and He will do what is best - for you and through you.
6. He will reveal how you are right by choosing to accept His covenant, which will also enlighten others about what God's love law is really like and what choosing to be in a love based covenant with Him truly means.
7. Let go of any lies about the Self-Existent One that prevent you from genuinely expressing your love passion for Him - even to the point of whirling around in a dance of excitement in your relationship with Him. Don't get mad or bent out of shape, however, when others prosper by planning and using wrong or deceptive ways to achieve their success.
8. Take a deep breath when you get angry and accept that you have that emotion. But don't lose your temper (get all bent out of shape) and copy the ways of those who spoil and make good for nothing.
9. Those who break up or make things good for nothing will consume (melt down), but those who bind themselves to the Creator will one day occupy this earth, taking the place of those who used to live here.
10. For shortly those who disturb, violate, and be or do wrong will be no more and you will fully understand what happened to them and why they are no longer around.
11. Those who gently and willingly agree with the Creator will live in the earth and delight in the abundant peace provided through God's love covenant with them.
12. Some people plot to disturb the peace of those who are right. They work hard (especially with sharp words) to make them as miserable as possible.
13. But my Sovereign Lord laughs at them for He knows their future.
14. Those who do wrong use all their resources to desolate and destroy. They set traps for the destitute, to try to get them to fall from being right in their life course.
15. Their parching and destructive actions, however, will so affect themselves that their strength will break and burst.
16. The value of few possessions while being right with God far exceeds the stress and unhappiness experienced by those who violate and abuse others.
17. The destructive force of abusers will loses power sooner or later; but the Creator holds on to those who choose His right will.
18. God knows what is happening even now to those who agree with Him, and His plans include an awesome inheritance for them that will last forever.
19. With God's inheritance waiting for them, God's family won't get discouraged when times get 'bad'. Even when food gets in short supply God takes care of them.
20. But abusers will sooner or later lose - like burning fat they will go up in smoke.
21. Those who borrow but don't return are wrong, but God's family shares resources.
22. God's inheritance for His family includes living on this earth. Ignoring God's covenant by choosing another will or way will result in nothing - not even a life.
23. God has plans for His family and they are happy to please God in their life.
24. Even though they may make mistakes, God doesn't cast them out. Instead He holds them up and continues to guide them with His power.
25. From my youth until now I have not seen those who do right and are cleansed by God let go of by Him. Neither have I seen their children begging for food.
26. God's family members prosper by always being kind and staying united.
27. So don't try to spoil others, but rather be pleasant and joyful to keep really living.
28. God's law is love and He doesn't stop protecting those who love Him. But even the families of those who break their covenant with God will consume away.
29. Those who are right with God will permanently occupy the earth and live in places where previous dwellers had been.
30 - 31. Those right with God think and speak wisely, and because God's law of love is in their hearts even their actions are not wrong.
32. But those who are in the wrong intently search for some way to bring God's family members under the power of their incantations or witchcraft spells.
33. The Creator will not give the control of His family to those who are wrong. He will not accept condemnations against those who have chosen to belong to Him.
34. Bind yourself to Your Creator, and by His power in you live the way He chooses for you. He will raise you up and give you an inheritance in the earth. You will see this happen after those who broke His covenant with them are no longer.
35 - 36. I've watched abusers harass and demolish others to supposedly prosper, yet then they disappeared and when I enquired about them later they couldn't be found.
37. Watch those who have accepted God's will and you will see peace in action.
38. But those who break away from God's covenant with them will end in nothing.
39. Those who covenant with the Creator God receive His strength, even in trouble.
40. The Self-Existent One surrounds His family. He will slip them away from their abusers, set them free and keep them safe because they flee to Him for protection.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Psalm 36
1. Written for the permanent music collection by David as service to God.
(Observations of those not in agreement with God)
1 - 2. The actions of those who are revolting against the Creator's just authority shows they have no real reverent submission to God in them. They think they are doing just fine by themselves - until finally their crooked ways get to look disgusting even to them.
3. The idols and 'stars' - whom they revere as 'great' - they talk constantly about and the 'lies' they believe shows they lack real intelligence or the ability to be truly successful.
4. They spend time and effort, involving intense passion, to honor and revere their stars and idols even though it ruins their lives and makes them good for nothing.
(Contrast with the Creator God and His family)
5 - 6. Creator God, You live in heaven with your loyal subjects. You are kind, just, right, trustworthy and true - which is how you govern the whole universe - and are as strong as mountains. When you make a decision it stands. And God, You are the only One who gives life to human beings as well as all other living creatures.
7. Wow! That You, Supreme God, are kind and courteous to humans is awesome. This is why human beings confide in you and trust You to defend and protect them.
8. They will be completely satisfied with the abundance of being Your family. You will refresh them with living water and they will be delighted with your luxuries.
9. You are the source of refreshing life. In your happiness we experience real joy.
10. Continue treating those who have chosen to experience belonging to your loyal family with Your kindness, courtesy, rightness and justice.
11. Please don't let those who choose their own way cause me to change my mind from belonging to You.
(A glance back)
12. Those who do other than God's will fall down and won't be able to get up any more.
(Observations of those not in agreement with God)
1 - 2. The actions of those who are revolting against the Creator's just authority shows they have no real reverent submission to God in them. They think they are doing just fine by themselves - until finally their crooked ways get to look disgusting even to them.
3. The idols and 'stars' - whom they revere as 'great' - they talk constantly about and the 'lies' they believe shows they lack real intelligence or the ability to be truly successful.
4. They spend time and effort, involving intense passion, to honor and revere their stars and idols even though it ruins their lives and makes them good for nothing.
(Contrast with the Creator God and His family)
5 - 6. Creator God, You live in heaven with your loyal subjects. You are kind, just, right, trustworthy and true - which is how you govern the whole universe - and are as strong as mountains. When you make a decision it stands. And God, You are the only One who gives life to human beings as well as all other living creatures.
7. Wow! That You, Supreme God, are kind and courteous to humans is awesome. This is why human beings confide in you and trust You to defend and protect them.
8. They will be completely satisfied with the abundance of being Your family. You will refresh them with living water and they will be delighted with your luxuries.
9. You are the source of refreshing life. In your happiness we experience real joy.
10. Continue treating those who have chosen to experience belonging to your loyal family with Your kindness, courtesy, rightness and justice.
11. Please don't let those who choose their own way cause me to change my mind from belonging to You.
(A glance back)
12. Those who do other than God's will fall down and won't be able to get up any more.
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