Psalm 36

In my heart, I understand this

– malevolence initiates violation –

without reverence for Godde there is no true vision. 

Faulty vision promotes cheating in order to make life easy

but wrongs are soon discovered and hatred surfaces ...

When one has stopped being wise,

                        stopped being kind, words become deceitful, errant …

Lying in bed devising trouble … not hating evil,

establishes one on a destructive path

O my Guardian, your kindness fills the heavens,
your faithfulness reaches to the skies,

your integrity is like your mountains, O Godde,
your judgments are great and deep …

You save both mortals and beasts,

O Godde, our Protector!

How precious, Godde, is your grace!

You creation trusts you even as you overshadow it;

all feast upon the rich goodness found within your house,
you allow them drink from the stream of your delights.

You provide the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Continue offering your grace to those who know you
and your close presence to the hearts that seek you.

Don’t let pride interfere,
don't wickedness push me away …

There evil lies, forever fallen,
flung down, unable to rise.

Psalm 35

My Guardian,

strive with all that strives against me,

fight against that which oppresses me …

Shield and protect me,

be my strong defense;

Say to me I am your salvation.

Those who would harm my soul

will blush with shame, those devising evil

are confounded and will repent …

My Protector, your angel will drive them away

like cut grass in the wind, your angel will pursue them

along a dark and slippery path.

Without cause, they prepared a net for me

they dug a trap to catch me …

Desolation overcomes the one who seeks to surprise

the concealed net captures the concealer

who falls into desolation … 

Let me rejoice in my Guardian;

I will delight in Godde's salvation. 

 

Deep in my bones I ask, who is like you?

Who else can rescue the weak from the strong;
the poor and needy

from those who exploit them?

Violent witnesses rise up,

questioning me, yet I am innocent ...

They replace good with evil, and I grieve …

Yet I humbled myself with fasting and praying

for their sakes;

And when my prayer returned to my heart,

I mourned for them.

I went walking, mourning for them

as if they were a brother or friend,

I grieved as if they were my mother;

I was bent over with weeping.

My stumbling delights them;

they gather, looking to take me unawares,

their whisperings tear me apart.

Within a twisted and mocking mask

the godless bare their teeth …

My Guardian,

how much longer will you just look on?

Rescue me from this ravaging,

this lion that would devour my soul.

I thank you in the great assembly

I praise you among the crowds of people.

They won't gloat over me,

they won't squint hatefully at me ...

they can not speak peaceful words

but devise deceit against those who are peaceful.

They shout their accusations – Hah !

We saw you with our own eyes!

But you saw them, My Protector,

don't stay silent, don't stay away from me …

Awaken! Come to my aid, my Godde, my Guardian!

Acquit me by your incorruptibility, my Guardian,

my Godde, then they will not gloat over me …

 

They won't say Hah! We've got all that we want

or We've consumed them …

Disgrace and humiliation return

to those who gloat over another's distress,

confusion and shame come

to those who aggrandize themselves at another's expense ...

Rejoicing and gladness come
to those who delight in incorruptibility; 

they will say Our Protector is great

and delights in giving peace to those who serve ...

I will tell of your integrity

and praise you all day long.

Psalm 34 Praise for Deliverance from Trouble

I bless my Guardian at all times –
My mouth praises Godde continually.

My soul exults in my Protector –
the afflicted hear and are glad.

O glorify the Holy One with me,
together we'll exalt Godde's name!

I sought the Holy One who answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.

Behold Godde, and be radiant;
this way your faces will never burn with shame.

I cried out and my Guardian heard me,
and from the midst of my troubles set me free ... 

Our Protector's messenger encircles those who revere* Godde;

our Guardian redeems them.

O taste and see that the Godde is good!
Blessed is the one who finds refuge in Godde.

Worship our Holy Guardian, O saints,

those who revere Godde lack nothing ...

Daring youth, like lions, might suffer want and hunger –
but those who seek Godde lack nothing good.

Come, O young people, listen to me,
I will teach you what it means to reverence Godde ...

Who desires long life,
who yearns for many days, in order to enjoy good?

Guard your tongue from speaking evil words,
and your lips from speaking deceitfully. 

Depart from evil, and do good;
seek peace, and pursue it.

Our gracious Guardian looks toward those who draw close –
Godde's ears are attuned to their cry.

Our Protector faces off against evil –
cuts off the remembrance of wickedness from the earth.

When those who have integrity cry for help, Godde hears,
and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Our Guardian remains close to the brokenhearted,
and rescues those with crushed spirits.

The friends of Godde often experience trouble;
but Godde the Holy One delivers them from evil ... 

The faithful One's bones are intact;

not one of them is broken.

Evil destroys with wickedness –

condemnation haunts those who hate integrity,

but our Guardian redeems the lives of those who serve Godde –
none who take refuge in Godde will be condemned.

Psalm 33

All you who walk with integrity
shout joyfully to the Holy One, our Protector!

      It is right to praise Godde.

Accompanied by the lyre, give thanks to our Guardian!
Sing praises to Godde with the ten-stringed harp!

      Sing vibrant songs to Godde! 

      Play your best, make joyful sounds!

Our Guardian, whose word is perfect,
whose every action is done in good faith,

Our Godde loves integrity and justice; 

Our Guardian's faithful love fills the whole earth.

The skies were made by the Holy One's word;
the starry multitude formed by breath coming from Godde's mouth.

Godde gathered the ocean waters and contained them, 

stored away the deep seas …

     O earth, honor our Guardian!
     all the earth’s inhabitants, stand in awe of Godde!

When Godde spoke, things happened!
When Godde commanded, things took shape!

Our Protector overrules what the nations plan;
Godde frustrates what the peoples intend to do.

Our Guardian's counsel stands forever;
Godde's intentions last from generation to generation.

     Blessed is the nation who recognizes Godde's sovereignty,
     Blessed are Godde's beloved.

Our Protector gazes from heaven,
seeing every human person.

Godde observes all who live upon the earth.

Godde made all human hearts,
and knows everything they do.

Rulers aren’t saved by the strength of their armies;
soldiers aren’t rescued by their own power.

      Don't bet on a warhorse for victory;
      not even its great strength can save …

Our Protector

      watches all those who honor Godde,
      all who wait, trusting Godde's faithful love,

Our Protector
      delivers their souls from death;
      supporting them during dry and barren times.

We put our hope in the Holy One, our Guardian.
Godde is our help, our protection.

     Our hearts rejoice in the Holy One,
      for we trust Godde's holy name.

Holy One, your faithful love surrounds us
as we wait for you.