Psalm 26—I have laughed loud and late with them when their razor words were the only jokes around.
God, mark me. Try me. I have wagered with you and wavered. Prove me against the whetted edge Of your unfailing love. I have cast my lot with yours, Yet kept the company of villains When they were the only friends I knew. I have laughed loud and late with them When their razor words were the only jokes around. I have washed my hands in innocence, But it never seemed enough. I circled your altar seven times, Waiting to see more than stone, Watching for a fire I couldn’t explain. I don’t know how I made it out, except I held a hope time could not beat level. There was always a mission bell, A beacon on my bow, a faith sheer off, A homing flame, a flare, a beam For my waning way: I have wanted to be with you Out of the world wind, To live where you live. I have wanted someone to say: Come home, come back, All is forgiven. So don’t leave me here like a spit pip. Show me your consolations— One for every year that went wrong. Stand me in your grace on level ground. Touch my lips to the burning coal And let me feel the firekiss. When the starlong stride of your light arrives, I will promise myself to it Until the promise takes. Lift my life toward the sunless city. Show me the fire, my pillaring God. Let me feel the warmth on my face.
Psalm 4—The wild waters shattered my staged life to so much flotsam.
Hear me and answer, my God, My righteousness, my anchorhold. When the wild waters shattered My staged life to so much flotsam, You snatched me up. You cleared the debris. You bent and listened. I waited and prayed. Lord, how long will you let them Trade your glory for shame, Run down the faithful and chase Such fickle, brittle lies? Yet, you have marked the faithful for yourself, You hear them when they cry to you. I tremble with rage at wrong, But I will not sin. I school myself to stillness. The word of God compounds inside me Until my fears churn one by one To hard, humble hope, Which I lay on your altar and set aflame. You gave more joy to me Than those whose grain and wine abound. I am full. I am secure. You made your face shine on me And I do not have to ask Where the light comes from. I lie down to sleep in peace, For you alone, Lord, Make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5—I never thought my hope would fail, but I have watched it wear to a nub.
Lord, hear me out. My hope is barely a whisper. I have only a sigh for prayer; A Godflung gossamer breath That flashes in the sun like spider silk And is gone. I can tell I am not who I used to be, But this morning I rally all The help I can ask for. I never thought my hope would fail But I have watched it wear to a nub. Now, I arrange all my needs in a row. I raise my voice when there are words And raise a song when there are not. Hear me, Lord. Watch. Remember. Evil gives you no pleasure. No stain mars your beauty. Nothing boastful can stand Before you and beat its chest. Yet here I am, broken and bent; Scattered, trussed, and tumbling. I feared all the wrong things. I have chased what you hate And called it good. There is more than blood on my hands, And two lies for every truth on my lips. I’ve been a harlot to the mirror’s glances, A long and weary marionette. Yet, I draw near to your house. I bow at the threshold of your temple. Your goodness cascades over me. There is no end of it, but addition. I didn’t know it would be like this. I spent so long trying To earn a kindness That was already mine; Afraid I would never find a grace That I could not lose. Lord, make my path straight before me. Lead me in your way. I have come this far, But I am harried by so many things That would eat me alive. I can’t seem to shake them. They entice me with words As wide as open graves. I know I will find only trouble; I know their lies are ghost lights, But I still want to follow. End this, Lord. Collapse This down around our ears. Scatter the rabble dogging me And teach me to say yes To what is good. If I ever needed a refuge, It is now. Shelter me. Hear my prayer. Gather me in That everyone you love Could be here to one place, Could lift our heads and laugh And raise a strong song. You bless all the lost Who take refuge in you. Truly, you are a shelter and a shield. There is no other.
Psalms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53, 54, 62, 63, 65, 66, 73, 74, 75, 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 100, 107, 110, 114, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 139, 140, 142, 147, 148.
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