A Prayer of Lament*
Lord Jesus, why do you stand so far away?
Why do you hide in times of trouble?
In arrogant wickedness, Vladimir Putin pursues Ukraine;
let the schemes he’s devised catch and ensnare him.
For in his wickedness, he boasts about his own cravings;
greedy, he curses and despises you.
In all his scheming, he arrogantly thinks,
“There’s no accountability,
since there’s no God.”
His ways are always secure;
your lofty judgments have no effect on him;
he scoffs at all his adversaries.
He says to himself, “I will never be moved —
from generation to generation, I will be without calamity.”
Cursing, deceit, and violence fill his mouth;
trouble and malice are under his tongue.
He ambushes cites;
he murders the innocent.
His eyes are on the lookout for the helpless;
he lurks like a lion in a thicket.
He lurks in order to seize victims;
he seizes them and drags them in his net.
So Ukraine is oppressed and beaten down;
helpless people fall because of his strength.
Putin says to himself, “God has forgotten;
he hides his face and will never see.”
Rise up, Lord Jesus! You are God, so lift up your hand!
Do not forget the oppressed in Ukraine!
Why has Putin despised you?
He says to himself, “The Messiah will not demand an account.”
But you yourself take note of this trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into your hands.
The helpless one entrusts himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless.
Break Putin’s bones
until there is nothing left of his wickedness to be found.
You are King forever and ever;
he will perish before you.
Lord Jesus, you have heard the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their hearts.
You will listen carefully,
doing justice for the fatherless and the oppressed
so that Putin may terrify them no more.