Living Psalm 17:1-7

Living Psalms Book

Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Holy One, I turn to your psalms
and find them naming my days
when my country’s northern neighbor is burning
and we do not send help, but threaten tariffs,
and yet I know that their voices
fill the heart-vacancies of every day.

Give us ears for the just causes,
not only for my people and my interests,
but for all your fragile world.

You know those whose needs are right –
put that knowledge in my heart.
Take violence from my lips and my actions,
and hold my feet from slipping
off the paths that lead to justice for others
and onto the sticky road of my own advantage.

I call upon you and trust your answer
that will show me how to love and offer refuge
to all those who are endangered,
not only in the hard decisions
of this particular day, week, month,
the storm of these winds, fires, elections …

but in all my wakings and restings,
because I can behold your likeness
in every face before me.

#Living Psalm 17_August 2 2026 Tirabassi (002)Download

Living Psalm 17:1-7 was written by Maren Tirabassi.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.