Psalm 58

CMD

Do you rulers speak what is just?
Do you correctly judge?
No, in your heart you are unjust,
Your hands harm all you touch.
The wicked from the womb mistake,
They lie from birth, they veer.
Their venom's like that of a snake,
A cobra that can't hear.

These snakes the charmer's tune ignore

How ever well they play.
Their teeth, O God, from their mouths tear,
Take lions' fangs away!
Let them vanish as water flows,
Blunted their arrows be,
As slugs melt or a stillborn goes -
May they the sun not see.

Before your pots can feel the heat,

Thorns green or dry below,
Away the wicked all are swept,
The righteous glad to know.
The righteous bathe their feet in blood
That from the wicked flowed.
All say they have their just reward
And all earth's judged by God.

Psalm 57

10.10.10.10

Mercy, O God, have mercy upon me,
Because my soul takes refuge now in you.
The shadow of your wings my refuge be,
Until disaster has bypassed me through.

I cry to God, God Most High I cry to,
God who fulfils his purpose for me, sends
From heav'n and saves, rebukes foes who pursue,
With love and with faithfulness God descends.

I in the midst of li'ns, with fierce beasts, lie -
Men's teeth - spears and arrows, their tongues - sharp swords.
Above the heav'ns, O God, be lifted high;
Let all the glory through earth be the Lord's.

For my feet they nets spread - bowed down, distressed
They dug pits in my path but in them fell.
Steadfast my heart, O God, steadfast my heart;
I will sing and I'll make music as well.

Awake, my soul! Wake harp and lyre new strung!
Dawn I'll awake as it comes into view
I'll praise you, O Lord, the nations among;
Among the peoples I will sing of you.

For great is your love, reaching to the sky;
Your faithfulness reaches ever upwards.
Above the heavens, O God, be lifted high;
Let all the glory through earth be the Lord's.

Psalm 56

My God, show mercy, I'm distressed,
By foes in hot pursuit;
They all day their attack have pressed.
They all day persecute.

Many attack me, in their pride,

Afraid, I trust in you,
In God whose word is to be praised.
I trust in God – fear through.

What can mere mortals do to me?

They twist my words all day;
Their schemes they all intend to be
My ruin, my decay.

They plot, they lurk, my steps they see,

They hope my life to take.
Wicked they are, don't set them free;
In wrath, God, nations break.

Record my misery; write what's found,

My tears list on your scroll.
Are all my cries not written down,
Yes, all my tears, the whole?

Then he'll turn back, my enemy,

When I call out for aid.
By this I'll know God is for me,
God's for me, whose word's praised.

In God, whose word I praise each day,
Your word I praise, Lord, true.
In God I trust, fear won't hold sway,
What can man to me do?

I'm under vows, my God, to you;

Thank-off'rings let there be
Giv'n to you, for you're the one who
From death has rescued me.

From stumbling you have freed my feet

That I may walk before,
Before you God and in the light
Of life for evermore.

Poets observe

Poets observe,
That's what they do,
A sparrow that sings,
A wasp's whisp'ring wings,
The brown leaves now few,
Light thrown on the dew.

Poets observe,
That's what they do,
Green ivy that clings,
The sharp nettle stings,
The foxgloves that grew,
White seagulls that flew.

Poets observe,
That's what they do,
The silver bell rings,
The joy morning brings.
Black crows in a yew,
The way the wind blew.

Poets observe,
That's what they do,
Now pulling some strings
And transforming things,
But does it ring true?
Well, that's up to you!