October 17
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PSALM 58 PRAYER FOR GODLY LEADERS
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.
6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!
7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!
10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.” – Psalm 58:1-11
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
O my God, you are a just and gracious God
Please hear our prayers for leaders who know you
There are so many of them who does wicked things
They rule the people with so much selfish schemes
O Lord, break all the evil deeds they do to oppress others
Let them not succeed to enrich themselves and have power
Let them not minimize the voices of the righteous
Make way for the upright to free the oppressed
Allow the godly to prevail in the midst of evil
Make your Spirit take over the plans of the wicked
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to pray for godly leaders according to this psalm?