Psalm 4:1–6:10

¹4When I call, give me answers. God, take my side!

Once, in a tight place, you gave me room;

Now I’m in trouble again: grace me! hear me!

²You rabble—how long do I put up with your scorn?

How long will you lust after lies?

How long will you live crazed by illusion?

³Look at this: look

Who got picked by God!

He listens the split second I call to him.

^4–5Complain if you must, but don’t lash out.

Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.

Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.

^6–7Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say.

“More, more.”

I have God’s more-than-enough,

More joy in one ordinary day

^7–8Than they get in all their shopping sprees.

At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,

For you, God, have put my life back together.

A David Psalm

^1–35Listen, God! Please, pay attention!

Can you make sense of these ramblings,

my groans and cries?

King-God, I need your help.

Every morning

you’ll hear me at it again.

Every morning

I lay out the pieces of my life

on your altar

and watch for fire to descend.

^4–6You don’t socialize with Wicked,

or invite Evil over as your houseguest.

Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;

you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.

God destroys Lie-Speaker;

Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

^7–8And here I am, your invited guest—

it’s incredible!

I enter your house; here I am,

prostrate in your inner sanctum,

Waiting for directions

to get me safely through enemy lines.

^9–10Every word they speak is a land mine;

their lungs breathe out poison gas.

Their throats are gaping graves,

their tongues slick as mudslides.

Pile on the guilt, God!

Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.

Kick them out! They’ve had their chance.

^11–12But you’ll welcome us with open arms

when we run for cover to you.

Let the party last all night!

Stand guard over our celebration.

You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,

for decking us out in delight.

A David Psalm

^1–26Please, God, no more yelling,

no more trips to the woodshed.

Treat me nice for a change;

I’m so starved for affection.

^2–3Can’t you see I’m black-and-blue,

beat up badly in bones and soul?

God, how long will it take

for you to let up?

^4–5Break in, God, and break up this fight;

if you love me at all, get me out of here.

I’m no good to you dead, am I?

I can’t sing in your choir if I’m buried in some tomb!

^6–7I’m tired of all this—so tired. My bed

has been floating forty days and nights

On the flood of my tears.

My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears.

The sockets of my eyes are black holes;

nearly blind, I squint and grope.

^8–9Get out of here, you Devil’s crew:

at last God has heard my sobs.

My requests have all been granted,

my prayers are answered.

¹⁰Cowards, my enemies disappear.

Disgraced, they turn tail and run.