“ ‘Contempt’ – Was Up To Here” (Psalm 123) [Spanish Jerusalem Bible Series] (Hebrews 4:12-13; John 1:1-5; James 3:1-12; Genesis 2 4-3:24; 11:1-9)

The Spanish words within this Psalm
Are great, for Kingdom-layer I’m on;
I started learning once again
The Spanish language – was a pain –

The way it was presented once
(Or twice) in world I had renounced,
Of power-plays; and selfishness;
To play out greed, not to righteousness.

In “Synergy” I saw it clear –
Once I included one more near
To me – the power aspect rose,
Was seen by me – “There Adam goes!”

For when we left the Eden-land
That we be thrilled to understand,
And make our way there by ourselves,
All things we used to dig in delve.

So language was one tool for us;
Though Babel-gift increased the fuss,
It’s served us well as way to ride
Our trusty steeds – swords by our side.

Great “Two-edged sword” indeed it is,
To falsify, and tell our fibs,
That King of Mountain we can be
On top of people whom we see.

But I had seen that “Twisted mess”
Was not intended – words to bless
Were what I saw before “That tree”;
And warnings ’bout “What fruit to eat” –

Or not – for “That route’s going to hurt
If you indulge – it wrecks up work,
And being mom’s to all mankind –
A pain indeed, as snakes unwind”.

We focus on “Relationships”;
And “Messed up work” because of it;
Our “Sinful ways” – expressions of
“Rebellious hearts”; such “Push and shove”.

But now I’ve seen the subtle part
Our language plays – as kids, we start
To hone the tools we use to play
Out nastiness there day by day.

So power-plays, I’d seen quite clear,
Were here as well – in Spanish, near
The very first – tradition long
For us as well in English song –

Like “Gringo” ditty from the beach
Of Spanish war where Yankees reached
Out to control another’s life,
And started war of needless strife.

But, then I saw the power-plays
In my own life-space – selfish ways
Of speaking to, and with, my kin,
And kith of mine in the world they’re in.

Lord, such contempt – “despresio”,
Is all around the world we know;
“Des” (like “reverse”) of “Preciousness”
Boy! That sums up what issue is.

In English, just a short time back,
Kids “Dis-ed” the ones who “Coolness” lacked;
Contempt indeed – it’s like that here,
Where all that’s precious disappears –

From view in our community –
Relationships – were seen to be
Beneath the “sobre” (over) ones,
In “bios” (life) – those “demos” (one’s).

I like their word “saturados”
Like “carbon-carbon-bonds” to us –
No room for other quarks or bits
Of energy because of it.

So all the rest of life’s outside
Of in-group’s clique – all must reside
In realms of lesser-lights than “Us”;
“sarcasmo” – with sarcastic fuss.

And then, the “Arrogant” in this –
So “satisfechos” (surface bliss),
Describes their lives – self-satisfied
(And pain to those where they reside).

So as I turn once more to home,
El mollinio(’s) pin, not roam
Out on that pinwheel’s whirling strife,
I choose to speak this better life.

For what we say, and think, and do,
With language, (now including you),
Will open up or shut folks down,
With language spoken (or a frown).

This Psalm requests some “piedad”
(some pity) – have some mercy – sad
Our situation here below,
On road which promised we would “Know”.

For we’re “estamos hartos” – wow!
“Are saturated” – “Fed up” – now
With all the put-downs from our “Friends”;
Please, Yahve (God), make all this end.

The poet then says, “they should get
Full dose of this”; yet not – I bet
It is a part they all know now;
Best let it go – let’s ask God, “How?”

That’s what this way is all about –
“Prayer-language” – Spanish – there’s no doubt
I can learn how You want us, Lord,
To hear, and speak, and do Your word –

Up here, on Kingdom-layer with Thee;
Then maybe as we go, we’ll see
A better way to language use
Than put-downs; scheming plans we choose.

Lord, thanks for this wee “Pilgrim Psalm”,
A part of sub-set which belongs
To hymns from those who walked their way
To Temple-town; in ancient days.

May we on our “caminos” (roads)
Use Spanish tongue to ease our loads,
And those around us who do life;
Fill us with You – push back our night.

Thanks Lord for this.

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