by jdansmall

Psalm 35

Stand up for me, O Lord!
Do battle with my foes
Take up Your shield, draw out Your spear
Defeat all who oppose.

Within my soul declare
“I am your Savior, strong!”
May those who plot and seek my life
Be caught in their own wrong.

Like chaff before the wind
Your angels chase them all
They’ve dug a pit and set a snare
And into them they fall.

Then I will sing for joy
Your salvation proclaim
My bones will say “There’s none like You!”
Yes, “Savior” is Your name.

You rescue poor and weak
Who are oppressed, pursued
O’erwhelmed by might they can’t defeat
Their foes you have subdued.

Fierce witnesses rise up
Accusing me with lies
They return evil for my good
My soul in sorrow sighs.

When sickness was their lot
My heart was filled with tears
I fasted, prayed, and paced the floor
As for a loved-one dear.

But then when I was down
They gathered, full of glee
Mocking and slander would not cease
They gnashed their teeth at me.

How long will You look on?
Rescue from lion’s claws
Then all the saints will hear my praise
And join in my applause.

Do not let them succeed
Who wink and act so mean
They don’t speak peace but conceive lies
“Aha, our eyes have seen!”

But You have seen, O Lord
And must not silent be
Come to my aid, don’t let them gloat
Or rejoice over me.

Don’t let them say, “Aha!
We got what we desired”
Humble them, Lord, expose their shame
Who against me conspire.

Let shouts of joy be heard
From those who take my side
I’ll join in praising You who save
“The Lord be magnified!”

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 35 (Part 1)

Stand up for me, O Lord!
Do battle with my foes
Take up Your shield, draw out Your spear
Defeat all who oppose.

Within my soul declare
“I am your Savior, strong!”
May those who plot and seek my life
Be caught in their own wrong.

Like chaff before the wind
Your angels chase them all
They’ve dug a pit and set a snare
And into them they fall.

Then I will sing for joy
Your salvation proclaim
My bones will say “There’s none like You!”
Yes, “Savior” is Your name.

You rescue poor and weak
Who are oppressed, pursued
O’erwhelmed by might they can’t defeat
Their foes you have subdued.

Fierce witnesses rise up
Accusing me with lies
They return evil for my good
My soul in sorrow sighs.

When sickness was their lot
My heart was filled with tears
I fasted, prayed, and paced the floor
As for a loved-one dear.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 34

Bless the Lord, Oh, Bless the Lord, I Bless the Lord forever!
My mouth will always speak His praise
My soul exalt, His triumphs raise
Rejoice, ye humble, all your days
Let us magnify and exalt His Name together!

I sought the Lord, He heard my cry, rescued from all my fear
They looked to Him, their faces shone
No shame, disgrace, or fear they’ve known
This poor man cried, He heard my groan
The angel of the Lord surrounds, I feel His presence near.

Oh, taste and see, the Lord is good, the ones who trust are blessed
So fear the Lord, all you His saints
Tho lions starve and even faint
Those seeking Him have no complaints
No good thing lacking for all those who in Him find their rest.

So, come, my children, hear my voice, I’ll teach you to fear Him
To have a life that’s long and good
Say only things you know you should
Do right, not wrong each time you could
Pursuing peace and righteousness will keep you far from sin.

The eyes of the Lord are on His saints, His ears hear what they cry
From wicked ones He turns His face
To cut them from their dwelling place
But when the righteous seek His grace
Their broken, contrite spirit finds on Him they can rely.

Many the troubles of the saints but from them all He saves
No broken bones on them are found
While wicked men with sins abound
With judgment their head will be crowned
But souls of saints will be redeemed, He’ll save them from the grave.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 33

Sing out for joy unto the Lord all you who are upright
Give thanks, sing praise, and shout for joy, your harps play skillfully
Justice He loves and righteousness, your praise is His delight
His word and works are always true, His mercies all can see.

With just a word the heav’ns were formed, His breath the stars so grand
The waters of the oceans deep He stores in piles vast
Let all the earth now fear the Lord, in awe before Him stand
For when He speaks, the work is done; at His command, stands fast.

While mortal men do plot and scheme He frustrates everything
But all His plans and purposes for ages will abide
Blessed is the nation that has made the Lord their God and King
Indeed, the people He did choose to keep them by His side.

The Lord looks on the sons of earth from His place in the sky
Their inmost hearts were made by Him, their works He understands
In vain do kings and armies great on their own strength rely
Salvation and deliv’rance ne’er can come from all their plans.

But the Lord’s eye is on the ones who fear Him and whose hope
Rests solely on His lovingkindness as their help and shield
Our soul waits for the Lord to act, His mercies we invoke
Rejoice and trust in Him always, before Him humbly yield.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 32

How thrilled and blessed are the ones
whose rebel sins are gone
How thrilled and blessed are the ones
no guilt, no guile, no dread.

But, oh the groaning of the ones
who cover up their sins
The hand of God is laid on them
and weakness is their lot.

I quickly saw my wretched state
and pulled the curtain back
I gave the ugly mess to God
and He forgave it all.

Because You are so gracious, Lord
we gladly come in prayer
Those who delay in seeking You
may find that it’s too late.

My hiding place, my fortress strong
I’m safe from all my foes
My life is now a constant song
declaring that You save.

“I want to be your teacher, guide”
is what I hear You say
“Just keep your eyes on Me each day
I’ll guide you with My eye.”

Do not be like the horse or mule
who seem to lack good sense
Unless you force them with the bit
they run from you, their friend.

The wicked find that life is hard
and lonely is their path
But all who trust the Lord will be
surrounded by His love.

So now be glad you’re in the Lord
and shout the joyful news
That, “Truly blessed is the one
who lives his life with God.”

© 2014 J Dan Smal

by jdansmall

Psalm 31 (Part 2)

But as for me, I trust in God
And all that You have planned
I say to You, “Thou art my God
My times are in Thy hand.”

Deliver me from all my foes
May Your face shine on me
Let me not, Lord, be put to shame
Save when I call on Thee.

Let those with lying lips be dumb
The wicked be disgraced
Who boast and slander all the saints
May they, Your judgment face.

But, oh how great Your goodness, Lord
Stored up for those who fear
The ones whose refuge is in Thee
You shelter, bring them near.

Away from all the plots of men
In You your people hide
Your presence is the secret place
Where safely they reside.

You shelter me from evil tongues
Besieged, I bless You, Lord
In my alarm I thought You’d left
My cry would be ignored.

But You have shown great mercy, Lord
You heard my des’perate plea
So, love the Lord, all you His saints
Preserved so faithfully.

The arrogant He will repay
Each one his due reward
But all will strength and courage find
Whose hope is in the Lord.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 31 (Part 1)

I run to You, O Lord
And hide myself in Thee
Because You always do what’s right
My Rock and Fortress be.

Let me not be ashamed
In You I put my trust
Bow down Your ear, deliver me
I know that You are just.

You are my hiding place
I get my strength from Thee
For Your name’s sake, please lead and guide
From their nets rescue me.

Into Your hand, O Lord
My spirit I commit
You have redeemed. O God of truth
I willingly submit.

I hate idolaters
Who worship worthless gods
But I put my trust in the Lord
Whose mercy I applaud.

You cause me to rejoice
In Your amazing grace
You’ve seen my plight and set my feet
Secure in a wide place.

Have mercy on me now
My troubles have increased
I spend my days in sighs and tears
My life has almost ceased.

Scorned by my enemies
Rejected by my friend
Forgotten, lonely, full of fear
When will this madness end?

I’m like a shattered pot
Ignored as if I’d died
I hear their slander and their threats
These all against me side.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 30

I lift my voice to bless You, Lord
For You have lifted me
You’ve rescued me from all my foes
From danger set me free.

O Lord my God, I cried to You
My life You have revived
You brought my soul up from the grave
Healed me, kept me alive.

Sing praises to the Lord, you saints
Give thanks unto His name
His anger will be very brief
His favor will remain.

Weeping may last the whole night long
He feels your deepest sorrow
Pour out your hearts to Him in faith
True joy comes on the morrow.

When once I boasted of success
And claimed it was Your grace
I thought myself to be so strong
Until You hid Your face.

Then I cried out to You, O Lord
“I think I’m going to die!
Who profits if I turn to dust?
In mercy, hear my cry.”

My mourning You’ve turned into dance
My sackcloth into song
Eternal thanks and praises now
To You alone belong.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 29

Glory!
Ascribe to the Lord, you sons of might
Ascribe to the Lord what is His right
Proclaim to all His pow’r and fame
Give honor to His glorious Name.

His holy beauty prompts our praise
Our voice in tribute now we raise
Thundering loud, we hear His voice
He shakes the earth, our souls rejoice.

Over the trees and waters broad
The majestic, pow’rful voice of God
Flashes of light’ning strike the earth
The mountains leap, the deer give birth.

Leb’non’s forests He strips bare
With flames of fire everywhere
Within His temple all things shout
“Glory to God!” they all cry out.

When all was flooded He was King
He reigns forever o’er everything
He makes our feeble strength increase
And blesses all His sons with peace.

© 2014 J Dan Small

by jdansmall

Psalm 28

O Lord my ROCK, I call to You
   Do not be deaf to me
If You don’t heed my desp’rate plea
   Then, Lord, what will I do?

Down to the pit I’ll surely fly
   I lift my hands and face
Up to Your high and holy place
  Please help me lest I die.

Don’t drag my soul away with those
   Who love iniquity
Who act toward others amiably
   But in their hearts oppose.

Reward the evil plans they make
   Repay their wicked deed
For all their schemes and selfish greed
   In justice, vengeance take.

Because they don’t Your works regard
   The things Your hands have made
Their wickedness will be repaid
   Their lives You will discard.

Blessed be the Lord Who heard my voice
   And answered my appeal
He is my strength, my help, my shield
   And makes my heart rejoice.

Because I trusted He came through
   I thank Him with my song
For those who now to Him belong
   He is a Savior true.

So rescue now Your chosen ones
   Bless Your inheritance
Now as our Shepherd take Your stance
   In Your arms hold Your sons.

© 2014 J Dan Small