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ask-rijus-ocs · 4 years ago

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Starter

[ There must be better ways to meet an interesting stranger than in the middle of the night during a storm. Yet, here he is.]

[ Twilight really didn't have a reason to go out this late. But like always, sleep evades him. And like always, he doesn't have anything better to do. So he heads outside. It's raining. He doesn't seem to mind it, despite the many, many times he's caught a cold from staying outside in the rain. Ordon is quiet. Unbearably quiet. ]

[The forest village is usually bustling. To see it silent is...different. He's not sure if he likes it. It brings back memories of when the kids were taken. ]

[ Epona is asleep. Thank Hylia. She has much better luck than him. Twilight pulls the fur hood over his head and walks into Faron Woods. Even in the dark of night, he knows exactly where he's going. He could probably close his eyes and end up in the exact same place. He's going to the bridge.]

[ Twilight doesn't know why he's going to the bridge, but he is. His feet have their own instinct, and he knows the forest both from seven feet up and kneeling to the ground. He cannot possibly be lost; simply wandering. He's about to pass by Faron Spring when he sees something. There's a shivering form in the water. Just from a glance, he can tell that the person is not from Ordon. Even Uli doesn't have hair that long. It would most certainly get in the way of work. ]

[ Twilight knows he can't leave them there. The protective instinct takes over, and suddenly his pace increases. They're asleep. Cold. Very cold. They've probably been laying in the water for a long while, there are petals mixed in with their golden hair. He doesn't have a towel, but he does have the pelt, which he quickly wraps around them. He's also soaked by now, and he's cold too, but like hell if he's about to be selfish and take it for himself. ]

[ "C'mon. Let's get you somewhere warm." He picks the young girl up, planning on heading back to Ordon. And then he hears it. Rustling, everywhere. Perhaps if not for his acute hearing, he wouldn't have noticed, but here we are. Twilight places her back down (on dry land this time, of course) and turns up to face the sky. Is that a...tail? Hm. His hand rests on the hilt of his sword, almost by reflex. And then, they jump.]

[ "Lizalfos. Just as expected." Twilight has the Ordon Sword out in an instant. Water is where Lizalfos are most mobile, but he can handle it. There's a lot of them. One,two, three, four, five....nine. Nine Lizalfos. In the rain. Hylia must really hate me, Twilight suspects. ]

[ The brunette attaches his shield fast enough to where he has time to get into stance. Two rush at him, and boy having the Bow or his Gale Boomerang with him would be real helpful right about now, but his past self assumed with naiveté that it would just be a harmless midnight walk. He's lucky he never lets go of his sword, otherwise he'd be dead. ]

[ Twilight's able to kick the first one to the ground before the second one gets to him, which he goes for the arm, and misses. Why'd it have to be midnight? Why now? He's saved Hyrule once before, can't he just be left alone? Perhaps it is his insomnia getting to him, but he's getting quite fed up with this. ]

[ He lands a hit the second time, and uses the pommel of his blade to slow down the third Lizalfos. An arrow hits his shield. Wait, an arrow? They have bows now? Oh, wonderful. Just wonderful.]

[ First is back up again, so he prepares for a helm splitter. That one's fast, so it dodges the head hit, but he's able to hit it from behind once he lands. Next comes the fifth, sixth, and seventh. They hold off for a few moments, and Twilight holds his blade out to his side in warning. They don't take it. Too bad. He releases a spin attack, sending all three stumbling backwards. An arrow hits his shield arm. Great. Just great. ]

[ He doesn't have any ranged attacks on him except for...Slingshot! How did he remember to take his slingshot and not his bow?! Stupid! Ugh, never mind, it'll have to do. He has to awkwardly tuck his sword under his arm so that he can use both hands. Good Hylia, it hurts to use an arm when you've got an arrow stuck in it, but he has a high pain tolerance, and so he manages. The last two bow wielding lizalfos fall to the ground and exchange their weapon for the swords of their fallen comrades. ]

[ Twilight has to straight up drop the Slingshot just so he has enough time to meet the Lizalfos in a sword lock. After it backs off, Twilight rolls behind the second one and performs a Back Slice. It's not as great as it could have been thanks to that goddess-damned arrow in his arm, but it hits just as well, and it's cause enough for the Lizalfos to retreat. He must've waited there for a solid ten minutes before he finally sheathed his sword. He's always tense after battle. ]

[ "It'll keep the wound sealed up until I can get back to the house, but it's gonna hurt like hell once I try to take it out. But I can't worry Rusl with this..." Twilight inspects the wound. If it gets infected, though, that's a different story. Hm. Well, thankfully, the girl is fine. He'll have to carry her only using one arm, but he'll manage. ]

[ The walk to the house is uneventful and painful. Putting all that weight on one shoulder made it hurt just as much as his arm.]

[ The sun is up by now. That fight must've taken a while. And now, another problem presents itself - how to get her up the ladder. At this point, he might as well just go to Rusl's place. Hmm.... If he can hold the ladder with his hurt arm well enough, then maybe. Twilight carefully ascends up the ladder, finally making it up to the door. ]

[ He sets her down on the bed, making sure she's warm enough. Hypothermia is something he knows well, and for someone with a child-like form to have to go through that is troubling. He wonders how she got here, and why she was laying out like that. ]

[ The next ordeal is his arm. He cleans the wound before taking out one of his spare daggers to cut the lodged in part. Renado has done this so many times that it's like instinct, but it's hard without anyone to hold out his arm or use the scalpel. He misses when Midna could just magic the arrowhead out and all he'd need to do was heal his skin afterwards. But alas.]

[ A pitiful wince escapes him as he pulls out the arrowhead. He'd been trying his hardest to stay quiet so she could sleep, but still. "Okay. Now to wrap it," He doesn't have any gauze, so he reaches into his dresser and uses one of his shirts to wrap it. There. He swaps his heavier arm guard onto that side for more protection in case it gets hurt again. ]

[ "Mm?" The girl sits up a few hours later, to find Twilight sharpening his blade. "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you." He looks up, placing the sword by his side after her panicked reaction. "Where.. Are we?" She looks around, baffled. "This is Ordon Village. It's my house." He explains calmly. ]

[ "Did you bring me here?" She adjusts herself on the bed, taking off the hood. Twilight nods. "You were passed out in the spring, it was raining. What were you doing out there?" He asks. "I found a portal while i was traveling. Took me here, but I got real dizzy and I think I passed out." She rubs her head. A portal? Strange. He decides to leave out the part about the Lizalfos to not worry her. ]

[ "Where's Roxy?" She searches her things. "?" "Roxy. Small fox, like 2'4", green eyes?" She explains. "Never seen them. Sorry." Twilight shakes his head. "Ah... " The girl looks nervous. "What's your name? Oh, right, uh, I should introduce myself first. I'm Carly Elizabeth Parker-Callisto. Uh... but just Carly works!" Carly nods. "I'm Li- Twilight." He corrects himself. He doesn't like his old name much anymore. ]

[ "Hm?" Carly pulls out something from her bag. "These quests weren't on the Slate before..." She swipes across the screen. "The Slate?" Twilight is confused. "A sheikah slate! It stores all my things, and I write quests down on here." Carly explains, holding it out in front of her. "Main Quest: Answer Questions... Side Quest:Find Roxy..." She cites it. "That's weird. I didn't put these in here." Carly scratches her head.]

[ "Answer questions? We don't have time for tests. It'd be best if you could get home as soon as possible. Where are you from?" Twilight sighs. "Lurelin Village! It's right here." Carly pulls up a map on her Sheikah Slate, handing it to him. "Never heard of it before. Actually, this whole map seems really off. Snowpeak is behind Zora's Domain, after all." He squints. ]

[ "Well, until I can get back home, I don't think it'd hurt if we answered a few.." Carly seems to like the idea. "I - I guess it'll be okay. But only until we can find your pet and get you back home." Twilight rubbed at his temple. "I think it'll be fun!" She smiles. Fun. Right.]

// Carly and Twilight are now open for asks! I will open up new characters as they appear.

- Mun Riju

#loz #Zelda #TP #Twilight Princess #TP Link #Twilight #botw #Carly Callisto #oc #asks open #a chance encounter // beginning arc #if there's anything else I need to tag this as lmk

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ducktracy · 5 years ago

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128. westward whoa (1936)

disclaimer: unfortunately, this is one of those cartoons that requires a disclaimer. this review you’re about to see entails racist stereotypes, concepts, and imagery. i do not at all support or condone these ideas in any way, shape, or form—they’re gross and wrong. it would, however, be just as gross of me to skip over them. this review is for the intent of educating and informing, and i don’t at all intend to harm or offend anyone. with that said, PLEASE let me know if i say something harmful, offensive, or wrong. it’s not my intent whatsoever and i want to be aware of my mistakes so i can fix them. thank you for bearing with me, and i hope you can understand.

release date: april 25th, 1936

series: looney tunes

director: jack king

starring: bernice hansen (ham and ex, kitty), tommy bond (beans), joe dougherty (porky)

hard to believe it’s time already, but this is the last appearance of beans. little kitty makes an appearance in plane dippy (i’ve seen some sources list plane dippy before the blow out, which i suppose makes more sense. it can be difficult to decipher the order of these cartoons when you have 3 different conflicting release dates for each cartoon. i suppose the order doesn’t matter as much as the content but still. i think around 1937 things start to get more concrete) and the bespectacled unnamed dog with an overbite who occasionally makes appearances reappears in shanghaied shipmates, but now the cartoons begin to shift focus towards porky. it’s been a good run, beans! unfortunately, his last goodbye isn’t the most savory of cartoons—out west, ham and ex cry wolf, pretending to be native americans and crying for help, but, of course, REAL native americans show up and no one believes their pleas for help.

open to a wagon train traversing the old west. beans and kitty are included in the band of pioneers, singing “covered wagon days”, vocals contributed by their cattle, some other pioneers, etc. even porky’s shown playing a flute solo. another gag includes a man riding his mule, essentially walking on top of it—he walks on ahead with his beer bottle, leaving the donkey behind. i’ve said it before, but i find it so interesting that jack king included songs in his cartoons. freleng and avery has mentioned how the merrie melodies format was nothing but a burden to their cartoons, having to work around the story to arbitrarily include a song in, yet king seemed to make it a point to include a song when he didn’t have to.

the gang settle in (kitty excitedly babbles on about how nice the spot they chose would be, with a lovely lake, big rock, trees, etc etc) quite comfortably. fade out back in to some pioneers square dancing to “oh, susanna!” (fun trivia, bugs and elmer sing a duet of “oh, susanna!” in the wacky wabbit, another western cartoon) a crowd clapping and cheering them on.

beans is enjoying himself, dancing along to the music. ham and ex run up to him and excitedly declare in unison “we’re gonna play indians!”, to which beans playfully warns “be careful the indians don’t getcha!” yep, it’s one of THOSE cartoons. unfortunately, this genre of cartoons would span all throughout looney tunes’ lifespan, moreso concentrated in the 30s and 40s, but the last ever classic era cartoon in 1969 is literally named inj*n trouble (a remake of the 1938 short by bob clampett, which he also remade in 1945 as wagon heels). so, unfortunately, this is the start of an unsavory and cringeworthy batch of cartoons.

ham and ex giggle and hobble away, but almost immediately halt in their tracks. behind a rock appears to be a native american headdress that’s moving. ham and ex exchange worried glances and eventually creep up to the source... only to find that it’s just a turkey pecking at the ground. this, of course, gives ham an idea (as always, there’s literally no way to tell them apart. i’m just going by left and right. who ever is on the left is ham, whoever on the right is ex) as he whispers into ex’s ear.

their idea? running around yelling “indians! help!” beans drops his stack of wood he’s carrying and reaches for his rifle, echoing their warning (in, for some reason, a deeper voice that is in no way tommy bond’s?) all of the pioneers are alerted and resort to gunfire. a dog in a pond shoots his rifle, skipping around like a rock in water. another dog hops into a wood stove and fires from there.

beans darts over to the rock where the turkey (unbeknownst to him) is pecking at the ground. beans fires, and does a jack king hat take when he realizes he shot the fan off of a turkey instead. ham and ex find it just absolutely hilarious, doubling over in a fit of laughter. beans is pissed and approaches them, warning ex that a native american will someday get them and (he pretends to cut his neck) “krrrrrrk! off goes your head!” he retreats, done with his lecture, when he suddenly whips around and snaps “and you too!” at ham. finally some nice comedic timing and a clever joke, but a shame it has to be wasted on something so racist and tiresome.

if ham and ex were rattled by beans’ lecture, they do little to express it. in fact, ex whispers in ham’s ear, both smiling with mischievous pride. ex thusly launches into a war call (ugh), followed by ham, and predictably beans is fooled again. he grabs his gun and starts running around in a flurry once more, his pioneer buddies also shooting aimlessly. ham and ex are now, for some reason, in the same spot where beans was prior (it never showed them running around). suddenly, ham taps ex on the back, who’s in a fit of hysterics. they both dart off screen as a frustrated and befuddled beans approaches, scratching his head.

now, ham and ex seek refuge behind a log, laughing and continuing their war cry. but get this—an ACTUAL grotesquely and stereotypically caricatured native american pops out from behind a tree! who would’ve thunk it? and, of course, he’s depicted as a barbaric savage. ugh. ham and ex run away, and once more does their routine of crying for help ensue, yet this time they actually mean it. the two pups hide inside the log, the native american diving in after them. the twins make it out of the other end as the native american gets stuck, and they both beat his head and butt with clubs respectively.

the twins cry once more, and, just as the classic story goes, no one believes them. beans runs his laundry through a wringer while kitty proposes he go check on the kids—“never can tell what they’re up to!” elsewhere, porky peels potatoes and shrugs off the cries for helps. he talks to the audience and stutters “it’s just those kids trying to fool you again.”

back to ham and ex. ham beats the native american on the butt, and he’s propelled out of his log and hurdles straight towards a tree. as the twins attempt to escape, they encounter more native americans, who attempt to dog pile on them. they narrowly escape, and this time run around in helpless circles near porky, who’s still (captivating as ever) peeling potatoes, merely smiling and shrugging. they both dive into a trunk at the base for safety. porky comments “those kids must think we’re pretty dumb.” he laughs (i think? he makes some sort of huh-huh noise but he looks more worried than joyful), but his laughter is quickly cut short once an arrow flies right through his beloved potato and splits it in two.

now porky attempts to make a break for it, running around aimlessly and tripping over a spare rifle in the foreground (i will admit that the shot is rather nicely staged.) suddenly, a ton of native americans pour into their base, all doing a war cry. porky struggles to get his warning out, but he has no trouble shouting “INDIANS!” after an arrow zings him right in the butt.

i know directors had lamented about working with joe dougherty’s natural stutter, because they couldn’t play around with his dialogue as much. mel blanc’s porky, as you know, would typically change his sentence structure in the midst of a stutter. i had watched porky in egypt earlier today, so i’ll use it as an example: at one point, porky laments “it’s awful war-wa-w-h-ho-h—gosh, i’m roasting!” that sentence structure was made famous by vaudevillian roscoe ates, who overcame a natural childhood stutter. part of his shtick would be to substitute his own words to make them come out easier. they wanted to take that direction with porky since the dougherty days, but couldn’t because of his natural stutter. tex avery has lamented about how much film was wasted during recording sessions with dougherty. so, to substitute, they’d play around with gags like these to get him to hurry up, whether it be whistling at him or, in this case, shooting him with an arrow. so it’s interesting to see them play around with his stutter as much as they could.

there’s a really strange cut that contributes to the cartoon’s incoherency—beans is chased by a native american brandishing a tomahawk while kitty cowers. beans is pinned beneath the crank of the wringer, and kitty tugs at the clothes in the wringer, which causes the handle to repeatedly smack the native american in the chin. it’s very subtle, but you see beans leap off of the wringer. a jump cut and beans is perfectly in position near a wood stove, shooting his pistols. the transition is nonexistent, almost no indication to show that he was in peril 4 seconds earlier. anyway.

an arrow pierces beans’ coonskin hat, a native american firing a number of arrows at him. beans hatches an idea and opens the door to the wood stove. the arrows fly into the stove and shoot right out of the pipe back at the perpetrator like a boomerang, pinning him against a tree. elsewhere, a native american attempts to slice a dog with his tomahawk. the dog takes off a toupee and hands it to the native american (a reference to the practice of scalping, like it sounds, cutting part of a human scalp with the hair attached. norm mccabe plays around with the word in the daffy duckaroo when daisy june tells daffy her boyfriend was wanted for ticket scalping.)

gags ensue as the fight rages on. a native american curves an arrow to shoot like a curveball, but it hits him in the but as the pioneer ducks. beans prepares to hit a native american over the head with a club, but instead hits another BEHIND him as he anticipates to go into the swing, eventually hitting them both. porky’s shooting his rifles, when an arrow pierced his suspenders. porky struggles to get his pants to stay up, occasionally flashing the audience as he continually hikes them up. another arrow shoots by and lodges in both his pants and shirt, effectively pinning the pants securely. i will give credit where credit is due, that’s a gag that actually feels somewhat funny.

meanwhile, ham and ex dive into some dresser drawers, popping out at the top of the dresser and hitting a native american over the head with hair brushes. they continue to hit and mock him, like a makeshift game of whack a mole. the native american cuts the dresser in half with his tomahawk, reaching into both halves and grabbing the kids, who cry for help. beans discovers a bear trap, and circles it like a lasso, throwing it right at the native american. it hits—where else?—right in the butt, and he retreats, the kids watching him go. unbeknownst to them, beans is creeping up slowly from behind. he does a war chant to give them a taste of their own medicine, and, of course, the pups are scared out of their wits. we iris out on their little eyes peering out of the trunk they used as a hideout.

to say the least, i hate this cartoon. this is my least favorite jack king cartoon to date, and least favorite beans cartoon. it’s a shame, i actually liked beans and i wish he had a more ceremonious goodbye. as you can obviously see for yourself, the cartoon is downright racist, mean spirited, and ugly. unfortunately i’ve seen a good handful of cartoons in this genre, and they’re all obviously racist, but this one in particular feels exceptionally mean spirited and grotesque. and aside from all THAT, it’s an obnoxious, repetitive cartoon. porky peels potatoes! beans gets mad! people shoot guns! ham and ex yell! as high energy as it is, there’s nothing very exciting about it. i saw this one in november—i wanted to watch every looney tunes cartoon, but didn’t know how i would commit/it was too daunting, so i instead settled for watching every porky cartoon since he’s been established so early on. told myself i wouldn’t watch it again, and here we are!

as for beans, it’s been... something! i say this is his final appearance, but he DOES make a cameo in plane dippy, nothing more. in fact, out of all 11 cartoons he was featured in, 2 of them are just mere cameos, so really he only has 9. and again, some sources list plane dippy as being made before westward whoa, which makes sense. regardless, i like beans. i love cat characters in general (sylvester was my favorite as a kid since i had a tuxedo cat of my own), but he definitely had more flavor than buddy, yet still falling into the happy to lucky protagonist. out of all 3 beginner stars, bosko, buddy, and beans, bosko was the most fleshed out and fun to watch. i certainly took him for granted when watching his cartoons (because i couldn’t shake the notion that “this is a blackface caricature”)—he was very bouncy and a musical character, and he was almost captivating to watch. buddy and beans you don’t get that musicality (i argue that in some cartoons, porky is a VERY musical character. i did an analysis on it here, which i’ll go more in depth on when we cover prehistoric porky). so, better than buddy, not as good as bosko. i’ll still miss him, but porky’s time to shine is finally here, and things are going to get rolling!

i don’t at all recommend this cartoon, but if you’re that curious i’ll put a link. obviously view at your own discretion.

#lt #westward whoa #reviews #long post #racism tw #king

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dfroza · 5 years ago

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the content of the heart matters.

we each have to choose these things.

A point made in Today’s reading of chapter 7 in the book of Mark:

(to the crowd that had gathered) Listen, all of you, to this teaching. I want you to understand. There is nothing outside someone that can corrupt him. Only the things that come out of a person can corrupt him. [All who have ears to hear, let them listen.]

When they had come in from the road, His disciples asked Him what He meant by this teaching.

Jesus: Do you mean you don’t understand this one either? Whatever goes into people from outside can’t defile them because it doesn’t go into their hearts. Outside things go through their guts and back out, thus making all foods pure. No, it’s what comes from within that corrupts. It’s what grows out of the hearts of people that leads to corruption: evil thoughts, immoral sex, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wicked acts, treachery, sensuality, jealousy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All of these come from within, and these are the sins that truly corrupt a person.

The Book of Mark, Chapter 7:14-23 (The Voice)

to be accompanied by wisdom from Today’s chapter of the book of Proverbs for november 3:

My son, always remember what I have taught you;

keep my instructions dear to your heart.

If you do, they will be your guide to

a long, healthy, prosperous life.

Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth;

engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck;

meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.

In this way, you will win the favor of God and others,

and they will think well of you.

Place your trust in the Eternal; rely on Him completely;

never depend upon your own ideas and inventions.

Give Him the credit for everything you accomplish,

and He will smooth out and straighten the road that lies ahead.

And don’t think you can decide on your own what is right and what is wrong.

Respect the Eternal; turn and run from evil.

If you depend on Him, your body and mind will be free from the strain of a sinful life,

will experience healing and health,

and will be strengthened at their core.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 3:1-8 (The Voice)

and concluded by reading in Psalm 7 that was penned by King David when he was falsely accused and trusting in God’s vindication:

Song for the Slandered Soul

A passionate song to the Lord

To the tune of “Breaking the Curse of Cush, the Benjamite,” by King David

Yahweh my God, I turn aside to hide my soul in you.

Save me from all those who pursue and persecute me.

There is none to deliver me but you!

Don’t let my foes fall upon me like fierce lions with teeth bared.

Can’t you see how they want to rip me to shreds?

Lord, my God, if I were doing evil things, that would be different,

for then I would be guilty, deserving all of this.

If I have wronged someone at peace with me,

if I have betrayed a friend, repaying evil for good,

or if I have unjustly harmed my enemy,

Then it would be right for you

to let my enemy pursue and overtake me.

In fact, let them grind me into the ground.

Let them take my life from me and drag my dignity in the dust!

Pause in his presence

Now, Lord, let your anger arise against the anger of my enemies.

Awaken your fury and stand up for me!

Decree that justice be done against my foes.

Gather all the people around you.

Return to your place on high to preside over them

and once more occupy the throne of judgment.

You are the Exalted One who judges the people,

so vindicate me publicly and restore my honor and integrity.

Before all the people declare me innocent.

Once and for all, end the evil tactics of the wicked!

Reward and prosper the cause of the righteous,

for you are the righteous God, the soul searcher,

who looks deep into every heart

to examine the thoughts and motives.

God, your wrap-around presence

is my protection and my defense.

You bring victory to all who reach out for you.

Righteousness is revealed every time you judge.

Because of the strength of your forgiveness,

your anger does not break out every day,

even though you are a righteous judge.

Yet if the wicked do not repent,

you will not relent with your wrath,

slaying them with your shining sword.

You are the conqueror with an arsenal of lethal weapons

that you’ve prepared for them.

You have bent and strung your bow,

making your judgment-arrows shafts of burning fire.

Look how the wicked conceive their evil schemes.

They go into labor with their lies and give birth to trouble.

They dig a pit for others to fall into,

not knowing that they will be the very ones

who will fall into their own pit of failure.

For you, God, will see to it that every pit-digger

who works to trap and harm others

will be trapped and harmed by his own treachery.

But I will give all my thanks to you, Lord,

for you make everything right in the end.

I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 7 (The Passion Translation)

and these lines mirrored in The Message depicting a courtroom scene and a cry for True Justice for the case of David’s heart:

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury

against my furious enemies.

Wake up, God. My accusers have packed

the courtroom; it’s judgment time.

Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,

throw out the false charges against me.

I’m ready, confident in your verdict:

“Innocent.”

Close the book on Evil, God,

but publish your mandate for us.

You get us ready for life:

you probe for our soft spots,

you knock off our rough edges.

And I’m feeling so fit, so safe:

made right, kept right.

God in solemn honor does things right,

but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.

God is already in action—

Sword honed on his whetstone,

bow strung, arrow on the string,

Lethal weapons in hand,

each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy!

He had sex with sin,

he’s pregnant with evil.

Oh, look! He’s having

the baby—a Lie-Baby!

See that man shoveling day after day,

digging, then concealing, his man-trap

down that lonely stretch of road?

Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst,

legs waving in the breeze.

That’s what happens:

mischief backfires;

violence boomerangs.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.

I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 7:6-17 (The Message)

only honesty is an act of “Checkmate” against the nature of a lie.

my personal reading in the Scriptures for november 3, the 42nd day of Autumn as a mirroring of the alphabetic number 42 of the word “rain” as well as being day 307 of the year:

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gokinjeespot · 5 years ago

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off the rack #1275

Monday, August 19, 2019

It was so hot and humid outside just now when I went to get the newspaper (yes, we still have it delivered) that it felt like I was walking into a sauna. I hope it rains to cut the humidity down. We certainly need the water as our gardens are wilting. It's been so dry that there's a burn ban in effect. I couldn't make a fire in the fire pit up at the cottage, much to my disappointment. The pleasure of sitting around a fire must be a primitive thing hard wired since we first were able to make fire.

Detective Comics #1009 – Peter J. Tomasi (writer) Christian Duce (art) Luis Guerrero (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). A new story starts here and it's a doozy. Deadshot is the bad guy and he might have been contracted to kill Bruce Wayne. The next issue can't hit the racks fast enough for me.

Event Leviathan #2 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Alex Maleev (art) Josh Reed (letters). I'm late to this because I had to wait on reorders. I think the identity of who Leviathan is gets revealed this issue. I'm glad it didn't take the team of the world's greatest detectives too long to figure it out.

Event Leviathan #3 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Alex Maleev (art) Josh Reed (letters). Psyche! Leviathan isn't who the detectives suspected it was last issue. It's still a mystery and the real deal does show up this issue. You may recall that Amanda Waller has been MIA, well not anymore. She's a big part of this thing. This story has fans talking and that's always fun.

The Amazing Spider-Man #27 – Nick Spencer (writer) Kev Walker (pencils) John Dell (inks) Laura Martin (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The new Syndicate has been hired to capture Boomerang and Spidey is forced to help his roommate Fred/Boomerang. Things don't turn out so well for the good guys. The last page has a shocking surprise that harkens back to the good old days of Stan Lee.

Powers of X #2 – Jonathan Hickman (writer) R.B. Silva (art) R.B. Silva & Adriano Di Benedetto (inks) Marte Gracia (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). The X in the title also represents the Roman numeral for ten. The scope of this issue is huge. We go from year zero of the X-Men to year 1000 as the mutants try to find a way to survive. There's not a lot of action but a heck of a lot of planning and strategising. I think our patience will be rewarded when Jonathan Hickman starts cooking with gas.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #10 – Tom Taylor (writer) Ken Lashley (art pages 1 – 14, thumbnails pages 15 – 17) Scott Hanna (inks pages 15 – 17) Luca Maresca (art pages 18 – 20) Nolan Woodard (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). The team-up with Hobie Brown, the good guy Prowler, ends with a cameo from Iron Man. I like bad guy makes good stories.

Catwoman #14 – Ram V (writer) Mirka Andolfo (art) Arif Prianto (colours) Saida Temofonte (letters). Hermosa Heat part 1. It's a new story with a new writer. There's a bounty on Catwoman and she going to find out who put it out there. I'm not a fan of the new cut-outs on her cat suit. I think it's just to show more titillating skin for the fanboys and that's creepy. The panels with the side boobs is what makes me think that.

Ironheart #9 – Eve L. Ewing (writer) Luciano Vecchio (art) Geoffo (layouts) Matt Milla (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). Riri goes to Wakanda in search of the mystical Wellspring of Power. She and Shuri meet for the first time and the young women's personalities clash like oil and water. Fortunately, a crisis bonds them later. A new character joins the story on the last page and she's related to someone that Ironheart fought against back in Chicago. I want to learn more about Silhouette.

Silver Surfer Black #3 – Donny Cates (writer) Tradd Moore (art) Dave Stewart (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). The planet Ego helps Norrin Radd to recover from his battle with Knull and it's a good thing because then the Silver Surfer can return the favour and cure Ego of a type of cancer. The surprise is what's causing the cancer. This weird story just got a lot weirder.

Loki #2 – Daniel Kibblesmith (writer) Oscar Bazaldua (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Clayton Cowles (letters). Loki visits Tony Stark to ask to join the Avengers. 'Tis to laugh, as they say. This issue ends in a most unlikely place and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #9 – Saladin Ahmed (writer) Javier Garron (art) David Curiel (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Is it time for Miles to be rescued from his kidnappers? Yes it is. His dad Jeff and his uncle Aaron team up to save Miles. Aaron getting a new Prowler suit might mean trouble in the future. I wonder how long Miles's mysterious kidnappers are going to stay a mystery?

Batman Universe #2 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) Nick Derington (art) Dave Stewart (colours) Josh Reed (letters). I think Brian Bendis is using this book to play with all the heroes and villains in the DCU. Batman teams up with Green Arrow briefly and goes to Gorilla City. By the end of the issue he's on another planet and I don't know if the Thanagarians are going to welcome him nicely or not. Oh, and we find out who the big bad is. I groaned.

Punisher Kill Krew #1 – Gerry Duggan (writer) Juan Ferreyra (art) VC's Cory Petit (letters). This is what I love about comic books. You can tell whatever far fetched story you want and have it beautifully illustrated. This is a spin off from War of the Realms where Frank Castle continues his war hunting down a frost giant named Kasyckla. But how is he supposed to get to Jotunheim? Wouldja believe via chariot pulled by one of Thor's goats? I wonder who is going to be in his Krew?

Once & Future #1 – Kieron Gillen (writer) Dan Mora (art) Tamra Bonvillain (colours) Ed Dukeshire (letters). I don't know why people are speculating on this book but it seems to be the hot buy of the week. This new 6-issue mini is a twist on the Arthurian legend with it not being clear whether Arthur is a good guy or a bad guy. There's a group of people wanting to resurrect the dead king to make Britain great again. This faction will kill to get their way. Duncan gets roped by his grandmother Bridgette into stopping this group of bad guys. I like the feisty Bridgette so I will keep reading this to see what else she and Duncan get up to. It's jolly good fun.

Gwenpool Strikes Back #1 – Leah Williams (writer) David Baldeon (art) Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). I never got into this fourth wall breaking comic book character before but I read a story that she was in recently and liked how fun she was. This issue is a great introduction to this whacky character and you needn't have read any of her previous appearances to get what's going on. You will get an extra kick out of Gwenpool if you're a dyed in the wool Marvel Maniac like me though. The rest of this 5-issue mini is going on to my “must read” list.

Age of Conan Valeria #1 – Meredith Finch (writer) Aneke (art) Andy Troy (colours) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). I was not impressed with Age of Conan Bêlit because I liked the book version of Bêlit more than the comic book version. Valeria is another matter however. She fought alongside Conan in “Red Nails” my all time favourite Conan comic book story. The way Barry Smith drew her made me fall in love with her. This origin story has Valeria hunting down her brother's killer and even though she looks like Betty Cooper with a sword, I like this enough to find out if she succeeds in her quest.

Silver Surfer The Prodigal Son #1 – Peter David (writer) Francesco Manna (art) Espen Grundetjern (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Now that the Fantastic Four have gotten him off Earth, Prah'd'ghul's adventures take him into space. Where there's space, there glides the Silver Surfer. This story flashes back to when the Silver Surfer was the herald of Galactus. In this issue he's just an Uber for Prah'd'ghul.

Fantastic Four #13 – Dan Slott (writer) Sean Izaakse (art) Marcio Menyz (colours) VC's Joe Caramagna (letters). The conclusion of the Thing versus the Hulk fight. I won't tell you who the winner is but I will tell you that the biggest loser is the Puppet Master. You won't like him when he's angry, and the Puppet Master made the Hulk extremely angry.

Conan the Barbarian Exodus #1 – Esad Ribic (writer & art) VC's Travis Lanham (letters). This was an easy job for VC's Travis Lanham. There are no captions or dialogue other than a few Hyborian Age word balloons. This is the story of a young Conan wandering the land and surviving against man and beast. It won't take long to “read” but I spent a lot of time just taking in the beautiful artistry. Any time Esad Ribic draws a comic book it's worth picking up.

Doctor Strange #17 – Mark Waid (writer) Barry Kitson (pencils) Scott Koblish (inks) Brian Reber (colours) VC's Cory Petit (letters). Herald Supreme part 6 is the conclusion to Stephen Strange's adventure with Galactus. This is a classic “deal with the devil” story when Mephisto enters the picture. Oh my god what a corny ending. Mark Waid also writes History of the Marvel Universe and he includes the whole thing right here. I did not finish the first issue of that chronicle and I am taking this opportunity to stop reading this title as well just because it got too maudlin.

Symbiote Spider-Man #5 – Peter David (writer) Greg Land (pencils) Jay Leisten (inks) Frank D'Armata (colours) VC's Joe Sabino (letters). Here's another weak ending. There was never a doubt that Spider-Man and the Black Cat would win against Mysterio but boy was it ever done in a mundane way. I will think twice about reading this title the next time this book hits the racks.

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dfroza · 4 years ago

Text

Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms

for Sunday, march 7 of 2021 with Proverbs 7 and Psalm 7, accompanied by Psalm 77 for the 77th day of Winter and Psalm 66 for day 66 of the year

[Psalm 7]

God! God! I am running to you for dear life;

the chase is wild.

If they catch me, I’m finished:

ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,

dragged into the forest and left

unlooked for, unremembered.

God, if I’ve done what they say—

betrayed my friends,

ripped off my enemies—

If my hands are really that dirty,

let them get me, walk all over me,

leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury

against my furious enemies.

Wake up, God. My accusers have packed

the courtroom; it’s judgment time.

Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,

throw out the false charges against me.

I’m ready, confident in your verdict:

“Innocent.”

Close the book on Evil, God,

but publish your mandate for us.

You get us ready for life:

you probe for our soft spots,

you knock off our rough edges.

And I’m feeling so fit, so safe:

made right, kept right.

God in solemn honor does things right,

but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.

God is already in action—

Sword honed on his whetstone,

bow strung, arrow on the string,

Lethal weapons in hand,

each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy!

He had sex with sin,

he’s pregnant with evil.

Oh, look! He’s having

the baby—a Lie-Baby!

See that man shoveling day after day,

digging, then concealing, his man-trap

down that lonely stretch of road?

Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst,

legs waving in the breeze.

That’s what happens:

mischief backfires;

violence boomerangs.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.

I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 7 (The Message)

[Psalm 77]

For the worship leader, Jeduthun. A song of Asaph.

I cry up to heaven,

“My God, True God,” and He hears.

In my darkest days, I seek the Lord.

Through the night, my hands are raised up, stretched out, waiting;

And though they do not grow tired,

my soul is uneasy.

I remember the True God and become distraught.

I think about Him, and my spirit becomes weak.

[pause]

You hold my eyes wide open.

I am troubled beyond words.

My mind drifts to thoughts of yesterdays

and yesteryears.

I call to mind my music; it keeps me company at night.

Together with my heart I contemplate;

my spirit searches, wondering, questioning:

“What will the Lord do? Reject us for good?

Will He never show us His favor again?

Has His loyal love finally worn down?

Have His promises reached an end?

Has the True God forgotten how to be gracious?

In His anger, has He withdrawn His compassion?”

[pause]

“I can’t help but be distraught,” I said,

“for the power of the Most High that was once for us is now against us.”

I will remember the actions the Eternal has taken,

reminisce on Your ancient wonders.

I will reflect on all of Your work;

indeed, I will study all You have performed.

O God, Your way is so different, so distinct, so divine.

No other god compares with our God.

You, God, and Your works evoke wonder.

You have proved Your strength to the nations.

You used Your great power to release Your people:

with a strong arm, You freed Jacob’s children, and Joseph’s.

[pause]

The waters saw You, O True God.

The seas saw You and swelled in sorrow.

Even the deep trembled.

Water poured from the clouds,

and the sky boomed out in response

as Your arrows of lightning flashed this way and that.

The sound of Your thunder whirled within the wind

as Your lightning lit up the world.

Yes, the whole earth trembled and shook.

Your way ran through the sea,

Your path cut through great waters,

and still no one can spot Your footprints.

You led Your people as a flock

tended by the hands of Moses and Aaron.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 77 (The Voice)

[Psalm 66]

Thank You, Lord

For the Pure and Shining One

A song of awakening

Everyone everywhere, lift up your joyful shout to God!

Sing your songs tuned to his glory!

Tell the world how wonderful he is.

For he’s the awe-inspiring God, great and glorious in power!

We’ve never seen anything like him!

Mighty in miracles, you cause your enemies to tremble.

No wonder they all surrender and bow before you!

All the earth will bow down to worship;

all the earth will sing your glories forever!

Pause in his presence

Everyone will say, “Come and see the incredible things God has done;

it will take your breath away!

He multiplies miracles for his people!”

He made a highway going right through the Red Sea

as the Hebrews passed through on dry ground,

exploding with joyous excitement over the miracles of God.

In his great and mighty power he rules forever,

watching over every movement of every nation.

So beware, rebel lands; he knows how to humble you!

Pause in his presence

Praise God, all you peoples.

Praise him everywhere and let everyone know you love him!

There’s no doubt about it: God holds our lives safely in his hands.

He’s the one who keeps us faithfully following him.

O Lord, we have passed through your fire;

like precious metal made pure,

you’ve proved us, perfected us, and made us holy.

You’ve captured us, ensnared us in your net.

Then, like prisoners, you placed chains around our necks.

You’ve allowed our enemies to prevail against us.

We’ve passed through fire and flood,

yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before,

saturated with your goodness.

I come before your presence with my sacrifice.

I’ll give you all that I’ve promised, everything I have.

When I was overcome in my anguish,

I promised to give you my sacrifice.

Here it is! All that I said I would offer you is yours.

I’ll throw it all—the best I have to bring—into the fire

as the fragrance of my sacrifice ascends unto you.

Pause in his presence

All you lovers of God who want to please him,

come and listen, and I’ll tell you what he did for me.

I cried aloud to him with all my heart, and he answered me!

Now my mouth overflows with the highest praise.

Yet if I had closed my eyes to my sin,

the Lord God would have closed his ears to my prayer.

But praises rise to God,

for he paid attention to my prayer and answered my cry to him!

I will forever praise this God who didn’t close his heart when I prayed

and never said no when I asked him for help.

He never once refused to show me his tender love.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 66 (The Passion Translation)

[Proverbs 7]

[Wisdom, Your True Love]

Stick close to my instruction, my son,

and follow all my advice.

If you do what I say you will live well.

Guard your life with my revelation-truth,

for my teaching is as precious as your eyesight.

Treasure my instructions, and cherish them within your heart.

Say to wisdom, “I love you,”

and to understanding, “You’re my sweetheart.”

“May the two of you protect me, and may we never be apart!”

For they will keep you from the adulteress,

with her smooth words meant to seduce your heart.

Looking out the window of my house one day

I noticed among the mindless crowd

a simple, naïve young man who was about to go astray.

There he was, walking down the street.

Then he turned the corner,

going on his way hurrying to the house of the harlot—

the woman he had planned to meet.

There he was in the twilight as darkness fell,

convinced no one was watching

as he entered the black shadows of hell.

That’s when their rendezvous began.

A woman of the night appeared,

dressed to kill the strength of any man.

She was decked out as a harlot, pursuing her amorous plan.

Her voice was seductive, rebellious, and boisterous

as she wandered far from what’s right.

Her type can be found soliciting on street corners

on just about any night.

She wrapped her arms around the senseless young man

and held him tight—

she enticed him with kisses that seemed so right.

Then, with insolence, she whispered in his ear,

“Come with me. It’ll be all right.

I’ve got everything we need for a feast.

I’ll cook you a wonderful dinner.

So here I am—I’m all yours!

You’re the very one I’ve looked for,

the one I knew I wanted from the moment I saw you.

That’s why I’ve come out here tonight,

so I could meet a man just like you.

I’ve spread my canopy bed with coverings,

lovely multicolored Egyptian linens

ready for you to lie down on.

I’ve sprinkled the sheets with intoxicating perfume

made from myrrh, aloes, and sweet cinnamon.

Come, let’s get comfortable and take pleasure in each other

and make love all night!

There’s no one home, for my husband’s away on business.

He left home loaded with money to spend,

so don’t worry.

He won’t be back until another month ends.”

He was swayed by her sophistication,

enticed by her longing embrace.

She led him down the wayward path right into sin and disgrace.

Quickly he went astray, with no clue

where he was truly headed,

taken like a dumb ox alongside the butcher.

She was like a venomous snake coiled to strike,

so she set her fangs into him!

He’s like a man about to be executed with an arrow

right through his heart—

like a bird that flies into the net,

unaware of what’s about to happen.

So listen to me, you young men.

You’d better take my words seriously!

Control your sexual urges and guard your hearts against lust.

Don’t let your passions get out of hand

and don’t lock your eyes onto a beautiful woman.

Why would you want to even get close

to temptation and seduction,

to have an affair with her?

She has pierced the souls of multitudes of men—

many mighty ones have fallen

and have been brought down by her.

If you’re looking for the road to hell,

just go looking for her house!

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 7 (The Passion Translation)

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dfroza · 5 years ago

Text

Today’s reading in the ancient book of Psalms

for Tuesday, july 7 of 2020 with Psalm 7 accompanied by Psalm 18 for the 18th day of Summer and Psalm 39 for day 189 of the year

[Psalm 7]

A David Psalm

God! God! I am running to you for dear life;

the chase is wild.

If they catch me, I’m finished:

ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,

dragged into the forest and left

unlooked for, unremembered.

God, if I’ve done what they say—

betrayed my friends,

ripped off my enemies—

If my hands are really that dirty,

let them get me, walk all over me,

leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury

against my furious enemies.

Wake up, God. My accusers have packed

the courtroom; it’s judgment time.

Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,

throw out the false charges against me.

I’m ready, confident in your verdict:

“Innocent.”

Close the book on Evil, God,

but publish your mandate for us.

You get us ready for life:

you probe for our soft spots,

you knock off our rough edges.

And I’m feeling so fit, so safe:

made right, kept right.

God in solemn honor does things right,

but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.

God is already in action—

Sword honed on his whetstone,

bow strung, arrow on the string,

Lethal weapons in hand,

each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy!

He had sex with sin,

he’s pregnant with evil.

Oh, look! He’s having

the baby—a Lie-Baby!

See that man shoveling day after day,

digging, then concealing, his man-trap

down that lonely stretch of road?

Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst,

legs waving in the breeze.

That’s what happens:

mischief backfires;

violence boomerangs.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.

I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 7 (The Message)

[Psalm 18]

I Love You, Lord

Praises sung to the Pure and Shining One, by King David, his servant, composed when the Lord rescued David from all his many enemies, including from the brutality of Saul

Lord, I passionately love you and I’m bonded to you,

for now you’ve become my power!

You’re as real to me as bedrock beneath my feet,

like a castle on a cliff, my forever firm fortress,

my mountain of hiding, my pathway of escape,

my tower of rescue where none can reach me.

My secret strength and shield around me,

you are salvation’s ray of brightness shining on the hillside,

always the champion of my cause.

All I need to do is to call to you,

singing to you, the praiseworthy God.

When I do, I’m safe and sound in you.

For when the ropes of death wrapped around me

and terrifying torrents of destruction overwhelmed me,

taking me to death’s door, to doom’s domain,

I cried out to you in my distress, the delivering God,

and from your temple-throne you heard my troubled cry.

My sobs came right into your heart

and you turned your face to rescue me.

The earth itself shivered and shook.

It reeled and rocked before him.

As the mountains trembled, they melted away!

For his anger was kindled, burning on my behalf.

Fierce flames leapt from his mouth,

erupting with blazing, burning coals as smoke

and fire encircled him.

He stretched heaven’s curtain open and came to my defense.

Swiftly he rode to earth as the stormy sky was lowered.

He rode a chariot of thunderclouds amidst thick darkness,

a cherub his steed as he swooped down,

soaring on the wings of Spirit-wind.

Wrapped and hidden in the thick-cloud darkness,

his thunder-tabernacle surrounded him.

He hid himself in mystery-darkness;

the dense rain clouds were his garments.

Suddenly the brilliance of his presence broke through

with lightning bolts and with a mighty storm from heaven—

like a tempest dropping coals of fire.

The Lord thundered, the great God above every god

spoke with his thunder-voice from the skies.

What fearsome hailstones and flashes of fire were before him!

He released his lightning-arrows, and routed my foes.

See how they ran and scattered in fear!

Then with his mighty roar he laid bare the foundations of the earth,

uncovering the secret source of the sea.

The hidden depths of land and sea were exposed

by the hurricane-blast of his hot breath.

He then reached down from heaven,

all the way from the sky to the sea.

He reached down into my darkness to rescue me!

He took me out of my calamity and chaos

and drew me to himself,

taking me from the depths of my despair!

Even though I was helpless in the hands

of my hateful, strong enemy,

you were good to deliver me.

When I was at my weakest, my enemies attacked—

but the Lord held on to me.

His love broke open the way

and he brought me into a beautiful broad place.

He rescued me—because his delight is in me!

He rewarded me for doing what’s right and staying pure.

I will follow his commands and never stop.

I’ll not sin by ceasing to follow him, no matter what.

For I’ve kept my eyes focused on his righteous words

and I’ve obeyed everything that he’s told me to do.

I’ve done my best to be blameless and to follow all his ways,

keeping my heart pure.

I’ve kept my integrity by surrendering to him.

And so the Lord has rewarded me with his blessing.

This is the treasure I discovered

when I kept my heart clean before his eyes.

Lord, it is clear to me now that how we live

will dictate how you deal with us.

Good people will taste your goodness, Lord.

And to those who are loyal to you,

you love to prove that you are loyal and true.

And for those who are purified, they find you always pure.

But you’ll outwit the crooked and cunning with your craftiness.

To the humble you bring heaven’s deliverance.

But the proud and haughty you disregard.

God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me!

You are the revelation-light in my darkness,

and in your brightness I can see the path ahead.

With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde,

advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me.

What a God you are! Your path for me has been perfect!

All your promises have proven true.

What a secure shelter for all those

who turn to hide themselves in you!

You are the wrap-around God giving grace to me.

Could there be any other god like you?

You are the only God to be worshiped,

for there is not a more secure foundation

to build my life upon than you.

You have wrapped me in power,

and now you’ve shared with me your perfection.

Through you I ascend to the highest peaks of your glory

to stand in the heavenly places, strong and secure in you.

You’ve trained me with the weapons of warfare-worship;

now I’ll descend into battle with power

to chase and conquer my foes.

You empower me for victory with your wrap-around presence.

Your power within makes me strong to subdue,

and by stooping down in gentleness

you strengthened me and made me great!

You’ve set me free from captivity

and now I’m standing complete, ready to fight some more!

I caught up with my enemies and conquered them,

and didn’t turn back until the war was won!

I pinned them to the ground and broke them to pieces.

I finished them once and for all; they’re as good as dead.

You’ve placed your armor upon me

and defeated my enemies, making them bow low at my feet.

You’ve made them all turn tail and run,

for through you I’ve destroyed them all!

Forever silenced, they’ll never taunt me again.

They shouted for help but not one dared to rescue them.

They shouted to God but he refused to answer them.

So I pulverized them to powder and cast them to the wind.

I swept them away like dirt on the floor.

You gave me victory on every side,

for look how the nations come to serve me.

Even those I’ve never heard of come and bow at my feet.

As soon as they heard of me they submitted to me.

Even the rebel foreigners obey my every word.

Their rebellion fades away as they come near;

trembling in their strongholds,

they come crawling out of their hideouts.

Cringing in fear before me, their courage is gone.

The Almighty is alive and conquers all!

Praise is lifted high to the unshakable God!

Towering over all, my Savior-God is worthy to be praised!

Look how he pays back harm to all who harm me,

subduing all the people who come against me.

He rescues me from my enemies;

he lifts me up high and keeps me out of reach,

far from the grasp of my violent foe.

This is why I thank God with high praises!

I will sing my song to the highest God,

so all among the nations will hear me.

You have appointed me king and rescued me

time and time again with your magnificent miracles.

You’ve been merciful and kind to me, your anointed one.

This favor will be forever seen upon your loving servant, David,

and to all my descendants!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 18 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 39]

A David Psalm

I’m determined to watch steps and tongue

so they won’t land me in trouble.

I decided to hold my tongue

as long as Wicked is in the room.

“Mum’s the word,” I said, and kept quiet.

But the longer I kept silence

The worse it got—

my insides got hotter and hotter.

My thoughts boiled over;

I spilled my guts.

“Tell me, what’s going on, God?

How long do I have to live?

Give me the bad news!

You’ve kept me on pretty short rations;

my life is string too short to be saved.

Oh! we’re all puffs of air.

Oh! we’re all shadows in a campfire.

Oh! we’re just spit in the wind.

We make our pile, and then we leave it.

“What am I doing in the meantime, Lord?

Hoping, that’s what I’m doing—hoping

You’ll save me from a rebel life,

save me from the contempt of dunces.

I’ll say no more, I’ll shut my mouth,

since you, Lord, are behind all this.

But I can’t take it much longer.

When you put us through the fire

to purge us from our sin,

our dearest idols go up in smoke.

Are we also nothing but smoke?

“Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my

cry—open your ears.

Don’t be callous;

just look at these tears of mine.

I’m a stranger here. I don’t know my way—

a migrant like my whole family.

Give me a break, cut me some slack

before it’s too late and I’m out of here.”

The Book of Psalms, Poem 39 (The Message)

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