(A David prayer.)
I need your attention, Yahweh.
I need some justice.
I need you to take my agony seriously.
I need you to hear my prayer.
I’m not lying.
I need you to vindicate me.
I need your eyes to take a good close look
At what’s really going on.
Get out your microscope
And examine my heart.
Sift through my dreams at night.
You’ll see that I don’t stay awake
Scheming in the dark.
Scan the transcript of every word I’ve said.
No slander there.
Scour my bank account.
No bribes.
No blood money.
People have tried to buy me
And failed.
Ask around,
I have no history of violence.
I’ve listened to your commands.
I’ve kept my feet on your path.
No stumbling.
Answer my request, my God.
Play close attention.
Listen. Really listen.
I need to see your great love
In action.
You save others who need help —
so, save me!
Protect me like you’d protect
Your own eye,
Like a mother protects her baby.
There are people trying to take me down,
Haters all around.
Their iron hearts
Have slammed shut.
Their arrogant mouths snarl.
These predators have tracked me down.
They prowl around me,
Feral eyes shining,
Ready to pounce.
These hungry lions can already taste
Their prey.
They crouch,
Ready to spring.
Leap to my defense, Yahweh!
Raise your rifle
And shoot them down.
Hunt the hunters
And save me.
They’ve lived their lives
Grabbing anything they can get
For themselves.
Well, give them what they’ve got coming.
Give them their just desserts —
Sweet on the tongue,
Bitter in the belly —
With plenty for their children
To gorge on
And leftovers for the whole family.
I long to be vindicated
From their accusations.
But even more than that, I desire this:
To see your face.
When I wake up from this nightmare,
It’s your face I will see.
I will be so completely satisfied,
Every other desire will fall away.