Category: psalm paraphrases

Not Psalm 136

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who watched over me in my heedless, self-seeking youth,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who allowed me to know the pain of false love
for his mercy endures forever,
That I might learn to desire his true love,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who indulged me in the blossoming of my intellect,
for his mercy endures forever,
That he might set in motion the ripening of the heart,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who saw me act both as Judas and Peter,
for his mercy endures forever.
And learn the bitter lesson of Gethsemane for myself,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who lit the longing for his glory in my heart,
for his mercy endures forever,
That I might discern the humble, hidden yeast of his love,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who drew me from wonder at far-flung galaxies,
for his mercy endures forever,
To seeking the kind eyes of Jesus in my neighbour,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who let me learn for myself that I hold too much stuff,
for his mercy endures forever,
That I might let go and be free for love,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who bound me to himself for eternity,
for his mercy endures forever,
And drenched me with love and fulfilled desire,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who spoke words of love to me as Jesus,
for his mercy endures forever,
That I might be his hands and feet and loving heart,
for his mercy endures forever.

Who taught me that I am bound in love to all who belong to him,
for his mercy endures forever,
For Jesus is all, and in all, and all is for him,
for his mercy endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever,
Give thanks to the Love of all loves,
for his mercy endures forever.

 

tRuth 2019

Psalm 62 paraphrase

My soul waits in silence on God,
The source of my salvation.
God alone is my rock, I shall never be shaken.
In stillness my soul waits for him and in trust,
Truly my hope is in him.
In God I am safe and honoured,
He is my strong rock and my refuge.
In silence my soul waits for his coming,
A waiting that draws down grace like the dew of the morning.
Put your trust in him, my people,
Do not fear to pour out your heart to him.
God is our refuge and he says,
Once and again he says that the power is his alone.

 

tRuth 2013

Psalm 22 paraphrase

This is the psalm quoted by Jesus as he died on the cross.

My God, where are you?
Why have you abandoned me?

Day and night I cry out,
but you are silent.

Still, you are the Holy One,
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Our forebears trusted in you and were saved in their distress,
but today they laugh at me for trusting in you.

I am a worm, hardly human,
everyone spits and laughs me to scorn.

Do not leave me in the lurch,
you who have kept me safely from the day I was born.

Save me from those who jostle me, who are closing in,
like a pack of wild dogs hunting me down.

I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint,
my heart in my breast is like melting wax.

I am reduced to skin and bone, stripped of everything,
they have shared out my coat and my shirt between them.

Save me, O Lord, come back and help me,
save my poor little life from the lion’s mouth.

Yes! You have answered me! Praise the Lord!
I will tell everyone and praise your name.

God does not ignore the poor and suffering ones,
he listens to those who cry to him.

All the world shall turn to God
in worship and praise together.

I will praise him for saving me, and so will my children,
their descendants for ever will praise the Lord.

 

tRuth 2018