Psalm 58 Prayed

Psalm 58 Prayed Praying for truth in our courts, our government, our media, and ourselves    O Lord, do all the rulers and opinion makers of our             nation indeed speak justly?             Do they all judge uprightly among us?    No, in their hearts many devise injustice,             and their hands mete out violence on the earth.    Even from birth the wicked go astray;             from the womb they are wayward and speak             lies.    Their venomous lies are like the venom of a snake,             like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,     that will not heed the tune of the charmer,             however skilful the enchanter may be.    People are poisoned by these lies and do not care,             they only hear what they want to believe,             their ears are closed to truth that disturbs.     May their ears be opened and ours too,             may all our tongues be loosened,             and may we speak the truth plainly.    By your power and grace, O Lord,             we renounce secret and shameful ways;             we will not use deception,             nor distort the word of God.    On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly,             we will commend ourselves to everyone's             conscience in your sight, O God.    But these leaders spin deceit to advance their             power,             they play the media to exploit the people.    Their lies are like fangs sunk deep into our flesh,             they devour our lives one mouthful at a time.    Break these teeth in their mouths, O God;             tear out, O Lord, the fangs of the lions!    Let their lies vanish like water that flows away;             when the spin doctors draw the bow,             let their arrows be blunted.      As gross as a slug melting away as it moves along,             as tragic as a stillborn child,    their lies debase everyone deceived by them.             May they not see the sun.    Speed the day, O Lord,             let it be swifter than a kettle can boil,    whether it’s full or half-empty,             let such wickedness be swept away.    Then we will be glad when the truth is vindicated,             when such wickedness lies defeated at our feet.    Then everyone will say,             “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;             surely there is a God who judges the earth.” Psalm 58 For the director of music. [To the tune of] “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. 1   Do you rulers indeed speak justly?             Do you judge uprightly among men? 2   No, in your heart you devise injustice,             and your hands mete out violence on the             earth. 3   Even from birth the wicked go astray;             from the womb they are wayward and             speak lies. 4   Their venom is like the venom of a snake,             like that of a cobra that has stopped its             ears, 5   that will not heed the tune of the charmer,             however skilful the enchanter may be. Mark 7:35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 2Cor. 4:2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 6   Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;             tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! 7   Let them vanish like water that flows away;             when they draw the bow, let their arrows             be blunted. 8   Like a slug melting away as it moves along,             like a stillborn child, may they not see the             sun. 9  Before your pots can feel [the heat of] the             thorns—             whether they be green or dry—             the wicked will be swept away. 10  The righteous will be glad when they are             avenged,             when they bathe their feet in the blood of             the wicked. 11  Then men will say,             “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;             surely there is a God who judges the             earth.”