Psalm 5 - A Phrase Poem

Psalm 5


Give ear to my words, O Lord,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.

You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;
with you the wicked cannot dwell.
The arrogant cannot stand in your presence;
you hate all who do wrong.
You destroy those who tell lies;
bloodthirsty and deceitful men
the Lord abhors.

But I, by your great mercy,
will come into your house;
in reverence will I bow down
toward your holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make straight your way before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongue they speak deceit.
Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.



I wrote Ps. 5 as a "Phrase Poem". "The phrase poem can be used to reinforce almost any type of phrase or clause while creating an image of a particular topic or scene. You can use almost any type of phrase or clause: Participle + adverb ( running quickly), Participle + prepositional phrase (running down the street), verb infinitive (to run), imperative statement (run for your life), conditional clause (If we run fast) (Writing Simple Poems by Holmes and Moulton). I chose to use a re-occurring idea in the Psalm and then to expand that idea as I worked my way through the Psalm, paraphrasing many of the important concepts.





Each and every day my groans and whispers come to your ears.

Each and every dawn my supplications are heard by the King of all creation.

Each and every morning my thoughts and desires are laid before your throne.

Each and every hour I expectantly wait for your answer.

Each and every sunrise you deal with my haughty and sinful ways.

Each and every passing day you judge evil.

You hate all who sin, all evildoers, all the arrogant,

all liars, all who shed blood, all who are filled with deceit.

Each and every generation stands condemned because

their mouths could not be trusted, their souls seek to destroy,

their opens mouths are a pit of death, their speech is a trap.

their evil plans will entrap them.

Each and every person stands condemned by their rebellion against you;

their guilt you have announced.

Each and every sunset may those who hide in the shadow of your wing

rejoice and sing in celebration.

Each and every moment you cover us with salvation

because we embrace the name of Jesus and exalt.

Each and every second you shower you chosen with blessings.

Each and every heartbeat we are encompassed by your acceptance and protection.