Though things are mute
they communicate your glory.
They shine with your radiance;
for in their essence they are not separate.
They live their lives in you.
Your light is their light.
All things express your beauty and your truth,
for you are the artist
and they your living word.
There is no speech, nor are there words
Their voice is not heard.
******
salm 22
1.My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning.
2.O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but I find no rest.
3.Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Isreal.
Divine one, sometimes in my distress
I am unable to find you.
I feel like a child abandoned by its mother;
left comfortless and lost by the side of the road.
Your ways are mysterious to me.
Your comforting presence eludes me.
I pour out my lamentations;
my fear, my anger my suffering.
My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me,
from the words of my groaning.
Holy one I beseech you continually,
but you give no answer.
I pour out my troubles before you.
I give my burdens to you,
for I have no answer.
My tears have exhausted me.
I cannot relax.
I am in a constant state of worry.
I beg you to answer my request.
O, God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night but I find no rest.
Now, I will humble myself and surrender to your mercy.
Now, I will wait and trust that in the quiet of my heart
I will hear your answer;
for your word is a part of my own being.
On my soul you have set your seal.
Yet you are holy enthroned on the praises of Israel.
*******
salm 24
1. The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it
the world and those who live in it;
2. for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it in the rivers.
3. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
The spirit of God pervades all creation.
The holy essence is the ground of all being.
His light shines in the heart of the atom.
His energy is distributed throughout the earth.
There is nowhere his presence is not.
His word is infused into every leaf and blade of grass.
Even the stones know the name of the holy one.
He unifies all creation in his presence.
His eternal flame burns throughout the universe
which is ruled by his laws.
All life follows his script.
The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it;
the world and those who live in it.
The seas and oceans proclaim his Divinity.
All created things are like waves
arising from and disappearing into the oneness.
His law is inscribed in each molecule of water.
Each drop remembers its sanctity
All rivers end in oceans.
and the oceans proclaim his unity.
When we connect with the holy essence of things,
we establish in them his alters.
for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
Who will experience his holy presence?
Those who have emptied themselves of themselves;
Those who have made room for him in their hearts;
Those who have abandoned the teachings of the world;
Those who are willing to know the truth that cannot be taught;
And who shall be made whole in spirit?
Those who have travelled through the valley of death;
Those who have released their fears;
Those who have given everything away and so lack nothing;
Those who are empty and thus fulfilled;
They are the ones who will see the Divine in every face.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
******
salm 24
4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fear,
5. Look to Him and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6. This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
My fears surrounded me;
they shut out the light.
I was living in a nightmare
asleep and in terror.
Then I remembered there was another way
and woke as from a dream and
like the nightmare images in a dream;
all my worries had disappeared.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fear.
Empty yourself, so that you can become
filled with the presence.
Release all you ever thought or knew
for they will block the light.
Trust in the source of life
for it is one with you.
Follow the flow of the energy of life
for it will guide you
Love is divine power
and can never be conquered.
In God there is no accused and no accuser
Therefore in you let there be no blame.
Look to Him and be radiant;
so your faces shall never be ashamed.
I have humbled myself and recognize
that I do not have the answers.
I have come to the end of my own understanding.
I do not trust the decisions I make alone.
I cannot take action that is not guided by you.
I am desperate with nowhere to turn.
My belief in my limited self has been reduced to rubble.
This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord,
and was saved from every trouble.
******
salm 25
4. Make me to know your ways O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5. Lead me in your truth, and teach me salvation
for you I wait all day long
6. Be mindful of your mercy,
O Lord and of your steadfast love
For they have been from of old.
Sometimes I feel lost at a crossroads
not knowing which way to turn,
not knowing which path is yours.
Show me your will O Lord
and if I choose the wrong way
lead me back so I may choose again.
Your ways are not the ways of the world.
Teach me to discern your will in all things;
so that when I feel pressured
by societies rules and judgments
I may know what is true.
Stay as close to me as my breath
Make me to know your ways;
O Lord, teach me your Paths.
Teach me the ways of Spirit.
Teach me the ways of happiness.
These ways are not as the world teaches.
I have followed the world’s teachings
and found them empty.
Neither wealth nor status
can make me happy for long.
Reverse my seeing
so that I may perceive the light
more than the form.
I come
to you daily in prayer and meditation.
I listen for your inner guidance.
I think of you throughout the day.
I remember you are with me
and when I let you lead me
I am strong.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me salvation.
For you I wait all the day long.
I know you are always with me
Even when clouds seem to come between;
for you are like the sun.
I know you cannot forget one
who is a part of yourself.
You cannot abandon your creation.
Help me to remember that clouds are illusions
made by my fear of your consuming love.
In my feeling of unworthiness
I run from your love,
then ask why you have abandoned me.
Help me to know my worthiness does not depend on me.
Help me to know that I am already saved
and my innocence cannot be soiled.
Be mindful of your mercy O Lord
and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
******
salm 26
1 Vindicate me ,O Lord,
for I have walked in integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord
without wavering,
2. Prove me, O Lord and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3. For your steadfast love is before my eyes
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
Recognize your divinity in me, Holy One,
and help me to recognize that sacredness in my own heart.
Help me realize that I am innocent and whole.
Help me access the peace you have placed within me.
Let me not doubt my worth which you established
from the beginning.
Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord
without wavering,
Whatever trials may come I will remain true to my essence.
my faith will not waver.
I will abide by your laws and trust in your love.
Whatever tests may come, let them be ways to polish the mirror.
Let the mirror of my soul reflect only you.
May I see your face in all creation.
And may I honour every being as divine.
Prove me, O lord and try me;
test my heart and mind.
In every person and circumstance
may I see your love reflected back to me.
For I know external things are merely a mirror of my soul.
You are the answer which contains all answers.
Whatever I may seem to want
is only a distraction from the desire for you.
You have placed a map and compass inside me.
You lead me as down a garden path under skies forever blue.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.
******
salm 29
1. Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings.
Ascribe to the Lord, glory and strength.
2. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in holy splendour.
3. The voice of the Lord is heard over the waters.
The God of Glory thunders,
the Lord over the mighty waters.
The Divine One is beautiful beyond all earthly beauty.
The Divine One is powerful beyond any earthly power.
Her beauty is more dazzling than a sunset.
Her power is mightier than the sun's;
for the sun is only a reflection of her power
and the sunset only an indication of her loveliness.
Therefore, when you are dazzled by a sunset,
May you recall the beauty of the One.
And when you are awed by the power of the sun,
may you remember the Divine Power.
All power and all beauty belongs to the creator
in and around us it is manifest and through us it is sent.
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings.
Ascribe to the Lord, glory and strength.
The Divine name cannot be said though it contains all beauty.
The Divine name cannot be said though it contains all power.
The Divine is a word that speaks of eternity
Her word speaks peace, her word speaks love,
and her word speaks truth.
On earth we call her by these separate names,
but her wholeness is contains them all.
Therefore let us worship her by becoming like her.
Let us become true, peaceful and loving.
Let us become the Divine qualities we worship.
And let her light shine through us, into the world
as through an open door.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name.
Worship the Lord in holy splendour.
The power of God is like the power of thunder.
To those who obey his law of love.
Her light illuminates the dark like
lightening illuminates the landscape.
She calms the churning waters of the emotions.
To those who love, she brings peace.
She quiets the storms of uncertainty and doubt
in those who give him their obedience.
She abides in the hearts of the faithful.
And places her offering of love on their heart's alters.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord over the mighty waters.
******
salm 32
3.While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4.For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
5.Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and I did not hide my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"
and you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
I did not speak of my sin even to myself
and the pain of my wrongdoing became
my constant companion, sucking out all
joy from my life; draining me of energy;
leaving me feeling separate and alone.
My guilt feelings festered and made me ill.
I felt undeserving of pleasure.
I took no delight in birdsong.
While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
When I thought of you, God
I felt so unworthy
All my energy went into my guilty feelings.
My body became weak.
Cut off from it's source of energy
because I broke your life giving law.
Guilt tortured my heart like unquenchable fire.
Nightmares entered my slumber.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me.
My strength dried up as by the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my error to you and to myself.
I took responsibility for my actions.
I spoke them aloud to my God and to myself.
And I let them go and He took them from me.
My body and my burden at your feet I laid.
My burden was lifted and I was freed
to turn the page and begin again.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and I did not hide my iniquity, I said,
"I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"
and you will forgave me the guilt of my sin.
******
salm 33
1.Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous
Praise befits
the upright.
2.Praise the Lord with the Lyre;
make melody to him with the harp
of ten strings.
3.Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings,
with loud shouts.
Those who love the creator
and keep his law of love cannot help
but praise him.
For they are channels for his spirit
which demands expression.
Love flows through them and into
the work of their hands, minds and hearts.
Those who offer their gifts at God's alter
shine with a holy light.
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
Praise befits the upright.
Music is a balm to the soul;
a gift of the spirit.
God is honoured when his spirit
flows through musicians.
He is praised by all artists
who place their work on his alter.
And also by those whose work is intangible;
those who work in the invisible realms.
He blesses those who grow food for the hungry.
and those who teach in his name.
He is honoured by all work which is done
from the heart and dedicated to him.
And by all Creative energy that is expressed
from a loving heart as naturally as a bird sings.
Praise the Lord with the Lyre;
make melody to him with the harp
of ten strings.
Do not copy another's expression
for God loves the uniqueness of all his creations.
Find your own mode of expression
which comes through you from the source
and is shaped by your individuality.
Do not be hesitant in your expression,
but trust spirit to work through you.
Trust it to show the way in all your endeavours.
Be bold and don't worry about the reactions of others.
Your originality is a gift to your creator.
Do not waver from your goal,
or fill your mind with doubts.
Sing to him a new song
play skillfully on the strings,
with loud shouts.
*******
salm 36
7.How precious your steadfast love O Lord.
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8.They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river