Psalm 119 (Part Five)—Some split their hearts in half to follow one master each.

"Your law tumbles at the top of my heart, Lord, going shiny as brass."

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible, so we’ll break it into seven parts. It is an acrostic poem, with one stanza for each of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Here are the stanzas for mem, nun, and samekh.

Rendition of Psalm 119 (Part Five)

Mem

Your law tumbles at the top of my heart, Lord,
Going shiny as brass.
Wisdom billows out inside me
For your commandments are mine forever.
As I devote myself to your ways
Insight gathers toward me
Like water through a tree’s roots.
I can see things others do not
Because I learn what is good from you.
I have kept my feet from evil paths
Because I want to keep your word.
I have not turned aside from your judgments
Because you have been my teacher.
Your commandments are like honey to me.
I have gained everything I have from them.
Now I can see what is right
And what is wrong.

Nun

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light on the path ahead of me.
I have sworn myself to you
And your righteousness shines in me.
Yet I am bowed down and afflicted;
Revive me with your word.
My words multiply your truth
I offer them back to you. 
Show me what justice is.
Danger waits for me on every side,
Yet I will not forget your law.
My enemies would snare me in traps,
So I will not stray from the path
You have lit in front of my feet.
I and my people have inherited your word
And the joy of it follows and leads us.
Chasten our hearts and hasten our feet
To walk the path with you where it leads,
Even to the end.

Samekh

Some split their hearts in half
To follow one master each,
But I will give you my love only.
You are my hiding place
And the shield above me,
So I also give you all my hope.
I wish the ones who would heap evil on me
Would be turned aside and cast backward,
So that I would be free to walk with you as a I would.
You let those who stray for your ways
Find the lies they are looking for.
Lift away the evil in the land like dross
So that those who would follow you
Can follow freely.
Then the whole earth would rise and tremble
At the fear of you. For no evil
Can stand against your justice.

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Catching up with the Darking Psalter

If you are new to the Darkling Psalter, it is a project to create renditions of the Psalms (artistic rewordings based on the original Hebrew) and original poems to pair with each one.

Psalms with poems: 1, 2, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16, 19, 22, 29, 31, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42, 46, 51, 53, 65, 73, 74, 84, 86, 88, 90, 107, 121, 123, 130, 131, 137, 142, 147.

Psalms only: 3, 23, 62, 117, 119 (part 1, 2, 3, 4),139, 148

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