The thing that strikes me about this psalm is the repetitious use of the word, may, used at the beginning of lines in more than half of the verses. Then, depending on your translation, used one last time in the final line of the psalm. Written three weeks ago, I was happy with it until I reviewed it again for this post where it received a major line change and a few more word tweaks. Now, it might be done. Psalm 20 For the director of music. A psalm of David. May the LORD give you answers when you're in distress; may the God served by Jacob protect you as well. May the help from his temple provide you redress, and come to your rescue from my Holy Hill. May your gifts be remembered and held in regard; may he favor the balm from your offerings' fire. May he grant you the hopes and the dreams of your heart, may he bring to fruition the plans you desire. May we sing now with joy for your struggles are done, in the name of our God, raise our banner and voice! May the LORD answer all your requests, one by one! Now I know that the LORD saves the king of his choice. He will answer from his holy heaven above, with the power and strength of his mighty right hand. Some trust chariots, some — its their horses they love, but we trust in the LORD, in whose name do we stand. When the nations collapse and they fall to their knees, we'll be strong and rise up and stand firm through it all. LORD, deliver the king all his earned victories! May you hear us and answer that day when we call. May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. (20:1 - NIV) May the LORD send help from his temple and come to your rescue from Mount Zion. (20:2 - CEV) May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. (20:3 - NLT) May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. (20:4 - NLT) We will sing for joy over your victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. (20:5 - NASB) Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. (20:6 - ESV) Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (20:7 - NIV) Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. (20:8 - NLT) LORD, give victory to the king! May he answer us on the day that we call. (20:9 - CSB) NIV: New International Version • CEV: Contemporary English Version • NLT: New Living Translation • NASB: New American Standard Bible • ESV: English Standard Version • CSB: Christian Standard Bible
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Like the familiarity of Psalm 23 or Psalm 100, this psalm was familiar to me as well — at least verses 7 thru 10, as I used to sing them as a kid. So, I was nervous as it crept closer to me having to deal with it. It start off with typical 4-line stanzas, which went off the rails already after the second stanza. Verse 4 seemed to have an extra line thrown in. David introduces a line about the sun at the very end of verse 4, and continues to talk about it in verses 5 and 6. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. Psalm 19:4-5 Because of this "extra" line, I decided to have extra lines in my poem as well to accommodate them, either to say something new or to emphasize a previous point. Psalm 19 For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens acknowledge God's glory; the skies show his handiwork there. And day after day they continue this way, and nightly continue to share. His knowledge is seen everywhere. They use neither words nor a language; and never is heard any sound. Their message goes forth from the south to the north, to the ends of the earth, round and round. In heaven, the sun's home is found. It bounds like a groom from his wedding; an athlete who’s eager to run. Beginning its quest till it sets in the west, it follows its course until done. None hide from the heat of the sun. The law of the LORD is perfection, restoring the spirit, indeed. His teachings are sure, will forever endure, providing all things to succeed, like wisdom for people in need. The precepts the LORD has are righteous, that bring a real joy to the heart; his rules are austere, his commandments quite clear, with insight for life from the start. His prudence is poised to impart. The fear of the LORD is upstanding, that ever and ever will last. His judgments are true, his decisions are, too; the future as well as the past. No matter tomorrow's forecast. More precious than gold are they worthy; yea, even the finest gold known. Though honey is sweet, they are more of a treat than honey that drips from the comb; the comb from the honeybee's home. By them, I've been warned — as your servant, obeying them yields great reward. Who knows all the faults that are locked in our vaults? Cleanse me from the secrets I've stored; of sin without knowing it, LORD. Keep me from the sins that are willful, that they may not rule over me. Then I would be clear of the great sin I fear, and blameless and innocent be. O LORD, I just want to be free. May all of my words that I've spoken, along with my innermost thought be pleasing to you in your glorious view; accept this reflection I've brought. Redeemer, O LORD, and my rock. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (19:1 - ESV) Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. (19:2 - BSB) Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, (19:3 - BSB) Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. (19:4 - NLT) It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. (19:5 - NLT) The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. (19:6 - NLT) The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (19:7 - NASB) The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (19:8 - BSB) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous. (19:9 - BSB) They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. (18:10 - NLT) Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. (19:11 - NKJV) None of us know our faults. Forgive me when I sin without knowing it. (19:12 - CEV) Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (19:13 - KJB) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (19:14 - NLT) ESV: English Standard Version • BSB: Berean Study Bible • NLT: New Living Translation • NASB: New American Standard Bible • NKJV: New King James Version • CEV: Contemporary English Version • KJB: King James Bible
From the previous poem — Psalm 17 — to this one, about two weeks passed. The first week I did no writing at all. The second week, I wrote this. I was a little reluctant to even start because of its length of 50 verses. And, yes, I know there are two more psalms coming up that are even longer! Due to its length, a few good lines were bound to be written. And, I want to highlight a few of them — especially the third of these excerpts. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. Psalm 18:6b-7 He heard my lone voice from his heavenly temple; he hears with his ears every cry that I make. The earth moved and shuddered, the mountaintops tremble; God's anger has caused their foundations to shake. He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. The channels of the sea appeared, and the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. Psalm 18:14-15 He sent forth his arrows, men ran in commotion; they fled from his lightning bolts hurled through the air. The blast of your breath, LORD, uncovered the ocean; rebuked, the foundations of earth were laid bare. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? Psalm 18:30-31 For God's way is blameless; the LORD's word, perfection. He shields and protects those who give him their trust. Indeed, who is God but the LORD in reflection? And who is the Rock but our God who is just? These are the reasons I write: to be able to transform God's word into poetry. To take some consecutive lines of thought, originally written in Hebrew, translated to Greek, then eventually to the English language — to take those back-to-back verses and find a way to fit them into a fixed pattern of rhythm and rhyme for the glory of God. Psalm 18 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love you, Jehovah, my strength and my power. The LORD is my rock and my fortress afield; my God, I seek refuge within your high tower, protect me and save me, my buckler and shield. I call on the LORD, who deserves my devotion; so I, from my enemies' grip, will be saved. Engulfed in the billows of death's endless ocean; the flood of the godless rolls over in waves. Entangled in cords of the grave that have tightened, as death lays its snares as a trap in my way. Distressed, I cry out to the LORD — I'm so frightened; for God's intervention do I hope and pray. He heard my lone voice from his heavenly temple; he hears with his ears every cry that I make. The earth moved and shuddered, the mountaintops tremble; God's anger has caused their foundations to shake. His nostrils blew smoke; from his mouth, fire consuming, coals kindled and blazing and spewing their heat. He parted the heavens, and there, in the glooming, descended with thick, dark clouds under his feet. He mounted the back of a cherub, then riding he glided and soared on the wings of the wind. He shrouded himself in the darkness, in hiding; dark waters and clouds veil his structure therein. From brightness before him, his thick clouds surrounding, come hailstones and coals that have been set aflame. The LORD Most High thundered from heaven, resounding as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain. He sent forth his arrows, men ran in commotion; they fled from his lightning bolts hurled through the air. The blast of your breath, LORD, uncovered the ocean; rebuked, the foundations of earth were laid bare. He reached down from heaven and gently withdrew me from out of the depths of the deep rolling sea. He saved me from powerful foes who pursue me; the hateful and those who are stronger than me. Attacked at a time I had nothing to hope in, Jehovah protected me from every foe. He led me to safety, a place in the open, he saved me because I delighted him so. The LORD has rewarded my deeds as he's weighed them; because of my innocence I am restored. I've kept all the ways of the LORD and obeyed them; I've not turned from God nor abandoned my LORD. For all of his rules and his judgments before me, I've never abandoned his stated decrees. I'm blameless before him of sin, uniformly; I've guarded my heart with a life on my knees. So I've been rewarded for godly deeds, solely, the LORD knows my hands have been clean in his sight. With those who are holy, you've shown yourself holy; to people upright, shown yourself as upright. With those who are pure, shown yourself to be pure, then; but those who are crooked you’ve shown yourself wise. You rescue the humble, afflicted and poor men, but bring down the haughty with pride in their eyes. LORD, you keep my candle lit, burning and dancing; my God lights the dark so all gloom is unveiled. In you I can crush any army advancing; with God, every wall that I leap can be scaled. For God's way is blameless; the LORD's word, perfection. He shields and protects those who give him their trust. Indeed, who is God but the LORD in reflection? And who is the Rock but our God who is just? The God who equipped me with strength and with power, removes every hurdle and makes my way plain. He makes me as swift as the deer in the flower, sure-footed in mountains and rugged terrain. For hand-to-hand combat, he's laid the foundation; the strength of my arms bends the bronze bow I hold. You've given me, LORD, your great shield of salvation; your right hand supports me and makes me extolled. You've broadened the pathway that my feet have stepped on, I no longer trip on debris to avoid. Pursuing my enemies, running, I kept on and did not turn back until they were destroyed. I crushed them completely, and put down the rabble; they're fallen, lay desolate under my feet. For you have equipped me with strength for the battle; those rising against me you've thoroughly beat. You've shown me their necks when they turned and retreated, with those who have hated me sentenced to die. They cried out for mercy, but none interceded; they cried to the LORD, but he did not reply. I've ground them to dust blown in windy conditions; and into the gutter like dirt they were thrown. You saved me from strife from the people's seditions; made me lead a nation of people unknown. As soon as they hear me, they kneel in submission; the foreigners cower when they venture near. The strangers lose heart when they see their position, and leave from their fortifications in fear. Oh, let the LORD live! To my Rock, I give glory! The God of salvation — exalted is he! The God who avenges, the one fighting for me; subduing the nations and peoples to me. You lifted me over my foes' domination; delivered me from the most violent of men. For this, O LORD, I will praise you among nations, and I will sing praises about your name, then. Salvation he brings to his king and appointed, great victories given from heaven ascend; unfailing to show his love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants no end. I love you, LORD, my strength. (18:1 - NIV) The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (18:2 - NLT) I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (18:3 - ESV) The cords of death encompassed me, And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me. (18:4 - NASB) The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. (18:5 - NLT) In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. (18:6 - NIV) Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger. 18:7 - NLT) Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him. (18:8 - NLT) He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. 18:9 - NIV) He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. (18:10 - BSB) He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. (18:11 - ESV) Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. (18:12 - ESV) LORD Most High, your voice thundered from the heavens, as hailstones and fiery coals poured down like rain. (18:13 - CEV) And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. (18:14 - ESV) Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. (18:15 - ESV) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. (18:16 - NLT) He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. (18:17 - NLT) They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. (18:18 - NLT) He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. (18:19 - NLT) The LORD rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence. (18:20 - NLT) For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not turned from my God to follow evil. (18:21 - NLT) I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees. (18:22 - NLT) I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin. (18:23 - NLT) So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. (18:24 - ESV) To the holy, you show your gracious love, to the upright, you show yourself upright; (18:25 - ISV) To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. (18:26 - NLT) For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes. (18:27 - BSB) You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. (18:28 - NIV) In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. (18:29 - NLT) As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. (18:30 - NKJV) For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? (18:31 - NLT) It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear. (18:32 - BSB) You make my feet run as fast as those of a deer, and you help me stand on the mountains. (18:33 - CES) He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. (18:34 - NASB) You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (18:35 - ESV) You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way. (18:36 - BSB) I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. (18:37 - NIV) I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet. (18:38 - NIV) For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. (18:39 - ESV) You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. (18:40 - ESV) They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer. (18:41 - NLT) I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt. (18:42 - NLT) You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. (18:43 - ESV) When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me. (18:44 - BSB) Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds. (18:45 - BSB) The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted! (18:46 - NLT) He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, (18:47 - NIV) He delivers me from my enemies; Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me; You rescue me from the violent man. (18:48 - NIV) For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. (18:49 - NLT) Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. (18:50 - BSB) NIV: New International Version • NLT: New Living Translation • ESV: English Standard Version • NASB: New American Standard Bible • BSB: Berean Study Bible • CEV: Contemporary English Version • ISV: International Standard Bible • NKJV: New King James Version
Normally, my poems contain four lines per verse. That's just the way I work. In this case, however, six lines per verse worked out nicely. Of course, there is the added challenge to come up with the additional rhymes. And, you need to have enough material to cover the additional length. You cannot have finished a six-line stanza only to find there is just one more verse in the chapter to cover. So, you need to pace yourself. My last two posts were crammed with MANY Psalms and only snippets of most of them. I was going to do the same with this post, as I have already completed Psalm 25 a couple of days ago, but decided to take a different approach. For this post, I've accompanied my poem with the actual psalm, with the various verses from different translations from which the poem was written. The problem I'll face with this posting method, is that not all of these poems have a story behind them. Psalm 17 was written in 2 days, one day after my last post. And, it was written nearly a month ago. I didn't have any time to get to know it, before moving on to the next one. So, I don't remember too much about it. Verse 14 was so long and the translations varied so greatly that I ultimately broke it down into the three parts of the three translations I worked with. Psalm 17 A Psalm of David Oh hear, O LORD, my righteous plea, and listen to my fervent cry. Give ear unto my prayer and see, it comes from lips that do not lie. Let vindication come to me; see truth and justice through your eye. You've tried my heart, and probed each thought, examined my heart in the night. You've scrutinized me, finding naught; I'll only speak what's pure and right. Regarding men, your words have taught me to avoid their violent fight. My footsteps to your paths adhere; my feet have neither slipped nor strayed. I call on you, incline your ear; God, listen to the prayer I've prayed. Let your unfailing love appear, and wonders of your hand displayed. Save those who seek to utilize the mighty refuge you provide. Protect me as you would your eyes; beneath your wings, LORD, let me hide from all those seeking my demise, and enemies on every side. Their calloused hearts are closed with hate; their arrogance and pride abound. They track me down, surround and wait, alert to throw me to the ground. Like lions' prey, they mutilate; their young ones stalk without a sound. Arise, O LORD! Against them, stand, and save me with your mighty sword from wicked people by your hand who view this world as their reward. You fill their bellies' great demand with hidden treasure you have stored. You let their wombs be filled with grace as many sons and daughters grew; in death, their young resume the chase to have their parent's wealth accrue. For me, one day I'll see your face; and I'll be satisfied in you. 17:1 (BSB) Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it comes from lips free of deceit. 17:2 (BSB) May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right. 17:3 (NLT) You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. 17:4 (ESV) With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 17:5 (ESV) My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 17:6 (ESV) I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 17:7 (NLT) Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. 17:8 (NLT) Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. 17:9 (NIV) from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 17:10 (BSB) They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. 17:11 (NIV) They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 17:12 (NLT) They are like hungry lions, eager to tear me apart— like young lions hiding in ambush. 17:13 (NLT) Arise, O LORD! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword! 17:14a (NIV) By your hand save me from such people, LORD, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. 17:14b (NKJV) And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. 17:14c (NLT) May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants. 17:15 (BSB) As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence. BSB: Berean Study Bible • NLT: New Living Translation • ESV: English Standard Version • NIV: New International Version • NKJV: New King James Version
I hit a milestone this week, of sorts. I finished my 15th psalm a few days ago, meaning I am a tenth of the way through the 150 psalms in Psalms. This is how I spent my last two weeks: Psalm 8 O LORD, Jehovah, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Your glory's seen from east to west, it fills the realms of heaven's girth. — excerpt of Psalm 8 I used to say — even as recent as two weeks ago — that I didn't read ahead before I wrote. No more! If I hadn't read this psalm before I wrote it, I wouldn't have known that the last verse was the exact same as the first verse. So, a little planning needed to be implemented before starting this one. Psalm 9 I will thank you, Jehovah, with all of my heart; I will tell of the wonders you do. I'll be glad and exclaim and exult in your name; O Most High, sing my praises to you. — excerpt of Psalm 9 This psalm, Psalm 9, was twenty verses long, which doubles the average length of the psalms to this point. The NIV says, To the tune of "The Death of the Son." I'm not sure how that song goes, but hopefully, this is not too far off. Psalm 10 LORD, why are you so far away in my crisis? During my troubled times, why do you hide? The wicked man hunts down the weak in his pride, entraps them in schemes that he plots and devises. — excerpt of Psalm 10 As I was writing this one, I was thinking that I had written in this meter before. But it turns out that Psalm 1, Psalm 4 and Psalm 5 were all sort of in this same style, but not this exact meter. Psalm 11 In the LORD do I trust. How can you say to me: Fly away like a bird to the mountains and flee! Look, the wicked bend bows till their bowstrings are taut, then fit arrows to fly from the shadows when shot, — excerpt of Psalm 11 This poem along with the next two were all finished on the same day, during a particularly productive writing day for me. Last Saturday, I finished with Psalm 10. On Sunday, I finished Psalm 11, then wrote Psalm 12 and Psalm 13. Psalm 12 Help, O LORD, for the godly are few, just a smatter! And the faithful have vanished from earth! Neighbors lie to each other with lips meant to flatter; double-hearted, their words have no worth. — excerpt of Psalm 12 I am writing these poems in Psalms much more quickly than I wrote the poems for Job, or so it seems. The reason for that, I think, are that there are generally so fewer verses in these early psalms. It was only in April of this year that I started recording the dates when poems were finished — wish I would have started that practice years ago! Psalm 13 How long, LORD Jehovah? How long will it be? Forever will your face be turning from me? How long must I wrestle each day with my soul? How long will my enemies wield their control? — excerpt of Psalm 13 When I was writing from Job last year, I only had to rotate between six different metered lines, one for each of the six characters in the story. For this project, this is the 13th poem and the 13th different meter used. Psalm 14 The foolish will say in their heart, There is no God under the sun. They're evil and vile, depraved in their guile; there's none that are good, no not one. — excerpt of Psalm 14 Make that the 14th different meter used. Psalm 15 A psalm of David. LORD, who may come into your tent and abide? And who dwells and worships on your mountainside? The one who walks blameless, who's righteous and kind, the one who speaks truth from his heart and his mind, the one who refuses to gossip on end, harms neither his neighbor nor censures his friend, despises the wicked and those cavalier, but honors the faithful who show the LORD fear, remembers his promise though all has been lost, loans money to others with no further cost, refuses the bribes to lay waste to the poor. Whoever does these will be ever secure. I really like the way this one turned out. I was a little miffed as to how to proceed when I initially encountered it in the Bible, but I gradually saw that it truly had a beginning (the questions), a middle (consisting of a single run-on sentence), and an ending (the answer). This is where I celebrated (to myself) the fact that I was a tenth of the way through Psalms and was planning to end this post with this poem. But, I finished the next one a few days later. Going to bed on Friday night, I hated it. Saturday morning, after a few changes, it wasn't so bad, after all. I've made a few more changes mid-post, and now I rather like it. I would have preferred to have had lines of alternating 12 and 9 syllables instead 12 syllables throughout. But, nine beats per line would not have been enough room to complete some of the sentiment of David. Only after I was nearly done, struggling with some the wording and reading some commentaries, did I stumble across this being The Golden Psalm. It was then, that I discovered that Paul quoted from this psalm a couple of times in Acts 2:25-31 and also in Acts 13:35. You can read about it here and here. Psalm 16 A Miktam of David. The Golden Psalm.
Keep me safe, o my God, in your refuge, alone. O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You're my LORD; and apart from you there is no good on my own. As for saints on this earth, they're my heroes, adored, but their sorrows will grow with more gods that they seek; I'll refuse their libations of warm blood that drips. Of their objects of worship will I never speak, nor will names of their gods ever pass through my lips. You alone are my portion and cup of my hand; you maintain, LORD, and guard whatsoever is mine. And the lines that have fallen in this pleasant land — I, indeed, have a wonderful heirloom, divine. I will bless LORD Jehovah, my counsel and guide; as my heart and my conscience instruct me at night. I have set the LORD always before me, beside; and I cannot be moved as he stands on my right. Its no wonder my heart's glad and tongue's overjoyed; as my body will also rest safely in bliss, because you won't abandon my soul to the Void, nor allow any faithful to see the Abyss. You have shown me the way of life, day after day; just to know you’re beside me has made my heart soar; in your presence there’s fullness of joy come what may; at your right hand are pleasures for me evermore. A few months ago, I was writing fairly furiously. I was cranking out a new poem every few days to a few weeks. Then I got bogged down on a poem I was writing and just stopped. I joined an online community to share some of my poetry. First, I dug out and submitted some older secular poetry I'd written YEARS ago. And they loved those. Some of my poems got thousands of views, dozens of "likes" and many nice comments. Then, I started weaving in the poetry I am writing now, i.e. the Job poems. The thousands of views dropped to barely a hundred, the "likes" dwindled as did the comments. I was even kicked out of one the forums because the moderator didn't like me "proselytizing" my "Abraham" poems. OK. So, I abruptly stopped that. I'd been spinning my wheels for about a month and a half now with nothing to show for it. After a few days of soul-searching (read: sulking), I got the urge to write again. Ever since I wrote the 40 poems from Job last year, I've been thinking ahead to the Psalms. As a teenager, I wrote a handful of poetry from Psalms, but gave it up. Partly, because they were so bad, but mostly because it was so daunting. Everyone knows there are 150 Psalms. 150! Plus, its already been done before. Several poets through the years have set the Psalms to rhyme. Psalm 1 How blest is the man who refuses to walk in the counsel of evil to guide him, nor chooses to stand with the sinners beside him, nor sit with the scoffers who mock. I wrote Psalm 1 a couple of weeks ago. It was like nothing I'd ever written before. The first lines of every verse contain 11 syllables, followed by 10, 12 and 8 syllables, respectively. Psalm 2 Why do nations rebel and conspire, why do people have futile things planned? Earthly kings, in their battle attire, have united and taken their stand. Three days later, I finished Psalm 2. I was freed from the constraints of writing in one of the six styles within my Job project, where every speaker had his own rhythm. Psalm 3 How many are my foes, LORD! How great that number grows, LORD! So many, with my back against the wall. They say, with jubilation, There will be no salvation, there is no help from God for him at all. At first, I was caught up with trying come up catchy titles like I did for Job. But after the fifth poem was written, and the next day I was still struggling with the title, I dropped the titles and stripped all of that clutter away. Psalm 4 Answer when I seek your face, O God of hope and righteousness; give relief to my distress, please hear my prayer and grant me grace. The fact that I no longer had to title my poems was a wonderful feeling! I could simply look at a Psalm, find the pattern, and write! Psalm 5 Oh listen to my words, LORD; consider how I groan. Examine, now, my sighing. Give ear to my voice crying; you are my King, my God, and I pray to you alone. So, in the course of a little more than two weeks now, the Lord's allowed me the ability to write these seven poems. It helps that they've been rather short, so far. Psalm 6 Lord, do not rebuke me in anger, nor discipline me when enraged. show grace as I languish in torment and anguish; my pain, LORD, cannot be assuaged. I really like the way Psalm 6 turned out as well as the next one. But, I'm not sure why upender is NOT a word! There are large pieces of equipment that have upender in their name, but yet it isn't in the dictionary? As I mentioned concerning my Job poetry, I usually don't look ahead or read the entire chapter before I start. I concentrate on the first verse or two to determine the rhyming scheme, then am always happily blown away when the rest of the chapter conforms to that pattern. In this instance, however, when I was checking to see how long the chapter was, my eyes fell on the word "hollow" in verse 15, and glancing at the previous verse I saw a series of events and thought of the word "follow". So, I had that in mind when I started writing the poem. And, what do you know? The Lord worked it all out for me! Psalm 7 A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD, and my God, it is you I rely on;
oh, save me from those who pursue me with hate. They'll rip out my soul with the strength of a lion; they'll tear me apart — there's no help for my fate. O LORD, and my God, if I'm truly that sordid, if my hands are guilty of breaking the laws, if peace had been given yet evil rewarded, if I robbed my foe without reason or cause, let me, by my foes, be pursued and then taken, my life and my honor both trampled to dust. In anger, stand up to my foes, LORD, awaken! For you have decreed what is truthful and just. Let people surround you from every known nation, as you take your seat on your throne in the sky. The LORD judges nations; give me vindication, for I am an innocent man, O Most High. I pray that the reign of the wicked be ended, establish the righteous and make them secure. O God, you are righteous and know what all men did, by testing which hearts and whose minds remain pure. Protector, my God, you're my shield and defender, the one who delivers the upright of heart. My judge and my jury, judicious upender; your wrath for the wicked you daily impart. If man won't repent, then God's sword will be sharpened, he bends down and readies his bow in his grip. Prepares for himself the most deadly of weapons, ordains for each arrow a fiery tip. When evil conceives, only trouble will follow for lies and deceit will result from that birth. By digging a pit and by making it hollow, he falls in his hole that he's dug in the earth. The troubles he causes return on him solely, the violence he's planned, on his head, will be poured. I'll give the LORD thanks for he's righteous and holy, and sing out my praise to the name of the LORD. |
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June 2021
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