PSALM 32 (33)

Praise the Lord, all ye just,
it is fitting to praise the upright.
Celebrate the Lord on the harp,
and sing to him with the ten-string psaltery.
Sing to him a new song,
and play with skill and joyfully,
for the word of the Lord is right,
and faithful are all his works.
He loves justice and judgment,
the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
The heavens were created
by the word of the Lord,
and by the breath of his mouth
all their majesties,
gathering the waters of the sea
as in a wine-skin,
and putting the deeps
into storehouses.
Let the whole earth fear the Lord,
let all who dwell in the world
be in awe of him,
for he commanded and it was made,
he spoke and it stood forth.
The Lord has scattered the councils
of the nations,
he has frustrated the designs
of the peoples,
but the Lord's plan
shall stand forever,
and the thoughts of his heart
from generation to generation.
Blessed is that people whose God is the Lord
who has chosen them as a heritage for himself.
The Lord looked down from heaven
and he saw all the children of Adam.
From his established dwelling place
he looked upon all the inhabitants of the earth:
he who alone fashioned their hearts,
observed all their works.
A king is not saved by the size of his army,
nor shall the strong man be freed by increase of strength.
The horse is a false hope for victory,
and by its great strength it will not save.
Behold the eye of the Lord
is upon those who fear him
and await his mercy,
that he may snatch their soul from death,
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul has waited for the Lord,
he is our help and our shield.
For in him our heart shall rejoice,
because we have hoped
in his holy name.
May your mercy be upon us, O Lord,
as we have been awaiting you.

In the Land my Grandmother Left

In the land my grandmother left,
the June days are very long.
When the sun comes out it's heaven,
and the mourning doves sing
a different song,
inviting me to know
how it must have been.

I think of her wrenching step
as her foot left the land.

June 12 2016

MOSAIC - Psalm 32 (33)

Laudate iusti Dominum rectos decet laudatio

Praise the Lord, O ye just,
it is fitting to praise the upright.

Exultate iusti in Domino rectos decet laudatio.

Rejoice, O ye just, in the Lord,
it is fitting to praise the upright.

Exsultate, iusti, in Domino:
rectos decet collaudatio.

Rejoice, O ye just, in the Lord:
it is fitting to praise the upright together.

Alegraos, justos, en Jehová:
á los rectos es hermosa la alabanza.

Rejoice, O just, in Jehova:
the praise of the upright is beautiful.

Justes, réjouissez-vous en l'Eternel !
La louange convient aux hommes droits.

O ye just, rejoice in the Eternal!
Praise is suitable for the upright.

Criez de joie pour le Seigneur, les justes;
aux coeurs droits la louange va bien.

Shout with joy for the Lord, O ye just:
praise is fitting for upright hearts.

MIXTOS - III

The cliff is too quick,
the dog wags its tail.
Unlike number zero,
forty-five dies in jail.

PSALM 31 (32)

Blessed is he whose
iniquity has been forgiven
and his sin has been
put out of sight.
Blessed is the man
to whom the Lord
does not impute iniquity,
nor is there dishonesty
in his spirit.
Because I did not speak,
my bones wasted away
in groaning all the day,
for day and night
your hand weighed upon me,
my strength was consumed
as in the heat of summer.
I confess my sin to you,
and do not hide
my iniquity.
I said "I shall confess
my crime before the Lord,"
and you forgave the iniquity
of my sin.
Because of this every devoted
one prays to you
in time of need,
and when floods of
many waters come,
they will not reach him.
You are my protection--
guard me against
the enemy.
You will surround me
with the joy
of my salvation.

I will instruct you
and show you the way
in which you should go.
I will keep you in my sight.
Do not become like
a horse or a mule,
that lacking understanding
will not come to you
without bit and bridle.

Many are the sorrows
of the impious,
but the one who trusts
in the Lord
will be surrounded by
his mercy.
Exult and rejoice in the Lord,
all ye just,
and praise him,
all ye of righteous heart.

A nudez

[portunhol surenho]

Devería ser
una coisa
sen comentá
la nudez,
y a minha
lo es.

Nudity should be
an unremarkable thing,
and mine surely is.

We Are All Foreigners

We are all foreigners
from another place
of ease and comfort,
thrown together here
to love, to struggle,
and perhaps to learn.
We spend our time
acquiring the language
and learning the culture,
for better or worse--
hoping to survive,
or even thrive,
and not offend.
But should we not
remember
the rich heritage
that we have brought?