We’re Refreshed, Embraced, Protected.
6
Holy One, please do not scold
or treat us harshly.
God, I am exhausted:
heal her aching body;
lift his beaten spirit.
Will Your Love revive us?
How? When? Must we die first?
Sleepless, always weeping,
tired of grieving, we are
sick to death of fights.
Back off, demons! God is Listening,
Receiving each tear, prayer and sigh.
All antagonists, retreat and,
mortified, lay down your weapons.
7
God Alive, our Hideout: Strong Love,
rescue us from haters’ talons.
If we have betrayed our families
or even have loathed enemies,
our defeat may be well-deserved.
God, overcome our blind anger
by Your Calm, Straightforward Judgment.
Rise, preside, and vindicate us:
Wise One, You see our true motives.
Halt all violent endeavors;
guard each truthful, peaceful spirit.
Your Passionate Justice awes us.
Mischief plotters hatch mere bubbles;
trouble-makers drown in trouble.
Thank You, Proactive Advocate;
All praise to You, God Majestic.
8
Your Excellency! Cosmos Creator,
Celestial King: babies sound Your praises;
children’s chanting shames Your foes to silence.
God Whose fingers flung out planets and spun
myriad galaxies into orbit:
Do mere humans merit Your attention?
Do You honor us almost as angels?
You adorn our lives with Glorious Purpose
to tend life on land, in air and water.
God, Your Majesty! Holy Creator!
9
With heart-driven poems we long to praise You.
Celebrating Your astounding actions
we rejoice in Your majestic presence.
May our songs trumpet Your supreme honor.
Accusers give up their case against us,
stunned to face You, Defender of Justice.
Divine One, do You devastate nations
and decimate vengeful, vicious people?
All-Viewing One, You always judge justly,
shelter outcasts, safeguard troubled masses.
God, to know You is to trust You, the One
Who never turns from those who look for You.
You remember and punish bloodshed,
never overlook mistreated people.
God, look on us today in Your Mercy;
draw us from the panicked brink of despair.
May we freely publicize Your Kindness,
thriving in Your Ever-Living power.
Let God-denying regimes self-destruct,
lost in labyrinths designed to trap others.
Your Justice is famous. Wily leaders
who forget You die and are forgotten.
You never forget one needy person
but offer Hope to each soul that suffers.
10
Why the seeming chasm between us?
God, can You see how much we need You?
Prideful hustlers prey on poor families:
they flaunt obscene lifestyles, kiss up to
landlords, warlords; they curse You, despise
your law. Fat-cats brag “Nothing scares us.”
Bigwigs talk big, pile on threats and lies.
Cronies bully women, hurt children:
safety nets are severed while dragnets
keep ensnaring innocent weaklings.
Sneaky thieves assume You are blind, God.
Heaven, hear and rescue beaten ones.
Why permit perpetrators’ curses
with boasts that You will never judge them?
All-Seeing One, You see the suffering!
Weigh each groan and teardrop, for victims
depend on You. Break evildoers’
power; call them to account. Divine
Judge, You rule the Universe in Peace:
violent empires have no future.
Loving God, You draw close to those who
yearn for shelter, water, food, freedom.
You move us to care, to encourage,
to advocate for abandoned ones.
No more fear of humans or demons.
11
We are safe here with You, God.
Why this fearful urge to flee?
We see danger and evil
spiraling—bombs, hijackings,
crumbling buildings—what to do?
You preside in Holy Splendor
shining through all Creation’s facets.
You observe every person closely,
prove our intentions sullied or pure.
You will brand violent people;
fiery guilt pangs will consume them,
Great Spirit will sweep them away.
God, You are good. You love justice.
You will guide us to face Your love.
12
God, help! No one is faithful.
Humans cannot be trusted;
everyone’s words are empty—
bloated untruths, glazed with sweet talk.
God, please seal flattering mouths.
Mute minds that boast “We always
win with words—who can stymie