paraphrase of psalm 139
Psalm 139
Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
You know everything I do;
from far away you understand all my thoughts.
You see me, whether I am confessing or denying you.
Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
You are all around me on every side;
you protect me with your power.
Your knowledge of me is deep,
for you knew me before I was born;
and this is beyond my understanding.
It is very dangerous to serve you in this world,
but where can I go
to escape from being the instrument of your peace?
What far place can I flee to,
without confessing you?
If I withdraw myself into “neutrality”,
you would be there;
if I go into my office to hide behind my keyboard,
you would be there;
if I take refuge in the farthest country away from the oppression of my people, you would be there, to remind me of what I promised you.
I could ask the darkness of my pain and humiliation to cover me,
or the light of your love in my life, to turn into darkness;
but even the night of my suffering dissolves in the light of your presence.
You created me in your image and loved me even before my mother conceived me.
I praise you,
what you do is so wonderful and above our human understanding.
Examine me, O God, and change my mind;
test me, and clean my thoughts.
Start the revolution in my life, create me anew,
and guide me in the way everlasting.
_______________
Zephania Kameeta
Why, O Lord? Psalms and Sermons from Namibia
World Council of Churches, 1986
(via Simon)