SONGS OF LAW AND EQUITY

Beyond the idealization of humans is the idealization of the society of humans as a society of 'law and order' and beyond that idealization is the ideal of justice as exemplified by equity. The Psalmist in his moments of idealization does justice to both of these concepts in his songs of law and equity. Indeed Psalm 119 could be paraphrased in a volume of its own.


Psalm #99
(a song of law or equity)

The people tremble
caught twixt law and equity.
Strength loves judgement.
Thus vengeance and forgiveness
sit between the cherubim.

Psalm #35
( Sung to lawyers )

Counsel, plead my cause.
Defender, stand up for me,
fight for me my fight.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
Draw out the spear, stop the way.


Psalm #54
( a supplication)

Save me by thy name
judge me by thy mighty power
give ear to my words.
For strangers rise against me
and oppressors seek my soul.


Psalm #142
(song of entrapment)

Walking very straight
But the D. A. sets a trap.
Get me out of jail.
Cause I'm feeling very low
get someone to go my bail.


Psalm #28
( the oracles song )

Holy oracle
hear thou my supplication
when I lift my hands.
If thou be silent to me
down I go, into the pit.


Psalm #79
(a song of clemency)

Scorned and derided,
a reproach to our neighbors,
by thy great power
save us, sighing prisoners,
we who are about to die.


Psalm 119
(for law and order)

Strangers on the earth
lost like bottles in the smoke,
help us find our way.
If we only keep the law,
we shall walk at liberty.


Psalm #5
(for more law and order)

Abhor deceivers
whose throats are as yawning graves
whose hearts, fatal chasms.
Led in paths of righteousness,
the way, thy way, will be straight


Psalm #119
(for law students)

Open eyed at night
meditating all the day,
how I love the law.
Tis a lamp unto my feet
and a light unto my path.


Psalm #94
( Kingsfields song)

Understand, ye fools
He that teacheth man knowledge
Possesses knowledge.
He that shapes the ear can hear
He that forms the eye, can see.


Psalm #82
(a song of equity)

Judge not unjustly.
Protect the poor, the orphans,
the ill, the needy.
Deliver them, defend them,
You, their Gods, are but men.


Psalm #9
(a song for Reaganomics)

Sinking in the pit,
tangled in the webs they weave,
Nations are human.
But the poor shan't be forgot,
their hopes not lost forever.


Psalm #113
( a song of equal rights)

Out of the dunghill
out of the dust, the needy
are met with princes.
The barren woman keeps house,
joyful mother of children.


Psalm #136
(a song of mercy)

The sun rules by day,
for mercy ever endures;
the stars, moon by night;
for mercy ever endures,
mercy endures forever.

Psalter Index****Songs of Emotion and Stress