Psalm 28–29

A David Psalm

¹28Don’t turn a deaf ear

when I call you, God.

If all I get from you is

deafening silence,

I’d be better off

in the Black Hole.

²I’m letting you know what I need,

calling out for help

And lifting my arms

toward your inner sanctum.

^3–4Don’t shove me into

the same jail cell with those crooks,

With those who are

full-time employees of evil.

They talk a good line of “peace,”

then moonlight for the Devil.

Pay them back for what they’ve done,

for how bad they’ve been.

Pay them back for their long hours

in the Devil’s workshop;

Then cap it with a huge bonus.

⁵Because they have no idea how God works

or what he is up to,

God will smash them to smithereens

and walk away from the ruins.

^6–7Blessed be God—

he heard me praying.

He proved he’s on my side;

I’ve thrown my lot in with him.

Now I’m jumping for joy,

and shouting and singing my thanks to him.

^8–9God is all strength for his people,

ample refuge for his chosen leader;

Save your people

and bless your heritage.

Care for them;

carry them like a good shepherd.

A David Psalm

^1–229Bravo, God, bravo!

Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!”

In awe before the glory,

in awe before God’s visible power.

Stand at attention!

Dress your best to honor him!

³God thunders across the waters,

Brilliant, his voice and his face, streaming brightness—

God, across the flood waters.

⁴God’s thunder tympanic,

God’s thunder symphonic.

⁵God’s thunder smashes cedars,

God topples the northern cedars.

⁶The mountain ranges skip like spring colts,

The high ridges jump like wild kid goats.

^7–8God’s thunder spits fire.

God thunders, the wilderness quakes;

He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.

⁹God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing

A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.

We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”

¹⁰Above the floodwaters is God’s throne

from which his power flows,

from which he rules the world.

¹¹God makes his people strong.

God gives his people peace.