VERSE 1
They see the man shining — clean cuts, firm stride,
But Proverbs 14:13 says laughter hides tears inside.
They want my confidence, think I’m built from steel,
But Sirach 11:2 warned: appearance ain’t the real.
In the mirror I fracture, breaking piece by piece,
A war in my soul that will never know peace.
My past haunts loud, like footsteps in a hall,
And I’d trade every “win” not to remember it at all.
While the world sees strength, God sees the drown,
My smile is a curtain and behind it, I’m down.
CHORUS 1
Vengeance against myself — the war I hide,
A perfect shell with a storm inside.
They praise the man that I pretend to be,
But God sees the battle they’ll never see.
VERSE 2
Crowds clap for the moves they think I’m making,
But Sirach 21:2 echoes: flee the sin overtaking.
I walk with poise but inside I’m undone,
A fire burning wild with nowhere to run.
They think I’m connected, destined, sure,
But Romans 7:24 screams: “Who will make me pure?”
The man they admire is a crafted illusion,
Meanwhile my soul sinks under self-accusation.
I accept who I was, but I wish it never occurred —
My memories hit harder than any spoken word.
CHORUS 2
Vengeance against myself — the sin I chase,
The shadows I bury but still must face.
They love the version of me that’s fake,
But inside I bend, I break, I ache.
VERSE 3
Then God stepped close — thunder in the night,
Breaking through my fury with uncompromised light.
Sirach 2:1–5 whispered: fire refines the soul,
And I felt His presence carve me whole.
But still I fought Him — me versus His call,
Clinging to shame, afraid to release it all.
Yet Psalm 34:18 rose like breath in the grave,
And I learned even rebels can be saved.
My rage met His mercy, my fear met His hand,
And sorrow bowed down to a love I can’t command.
CHORUS 3
Vengeance against myself — but His grace cuts through,
The chains I forged, He shattered in two.
I fought His love but He didn’t withdraw,
He broke my darkness with holy awe.
VERSE 4
Now I rise rebuilt — not flawless, but renewed,
A man whose scars are no longer misconstrued.
2 Corinthians 5:17 opened the dawn’s first door,
And the past lost power, ruling me no more.
Inside matches outside — Christ made them align,
A son redeemed by a mercy divine.
No more masks, no mirror war — just truth restored,
A life remade by the wounds of the Lord.
FINAL CHORUS
Vengeance died when His love took hold,
He turned my ashes into streets of gold.
The man I was and the man they see —
Now stand united in His victory.
CalebJJ
