Psalm 5 

A David Psalm

1-3 Listen, 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.

4-6 

You 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.

7-8 

And 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.

9-10 

Every 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.

11-12 

But 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.