Psalm 11

1 I’ve already run for dear life straight to the arms of God.
So why would I run away now
when you say,
“Run to the mountains;

2 the evil
bows are bent, the wicked arrows
Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness
at every heart open to God.

3 The bottom’s dropped out of the country;
good people don’t have a chance”?

4 But God hasn’t moved to the mountains;
his holy address hasn’t changed.
He’s in charge, as always, his eyes
taking everything in, his eyelids
Unblinking, examining Adam’s unruly brood
inside and out, not missing a thing.

5 He tests the good and the bad alike;
if anyone cheats, God’s outraged.

6 Fail the test and you’re out,
out in a hail of firestones,
Drinking from a canteen
filled with hot desert wind.

7 God’s business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.
A David psalm

Psalm 12

1 Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down,
All the friends I depended on gone.

2 Everyone talks in lie language;
Lies slide off their oily lips.
They doubletalk with forked tongues.

3 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull
The braggart tongues from their mouths!

4 I’m tired of hearing, “We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world.”

5 Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
“I’ve had enough; I’m on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched.”

6 God’s words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.

7 God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,

8 From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies.
A David psalm

Psalm 13

1 Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough.
I’ve looked at the back of your head
long enough.

2 Long enough
I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.

3 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,

4 So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.

5 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I’m celebrating your rescue.

6 I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
I’m so full of answered prayers.
A David psalm