Psalm 25—Sweet singer, there is always more of your kindness than I thought was left.

The Darkling Psalter is a project to create renditions of the Psalms. Psalms complete: 80/150.

Rendition of Psalm 25

All autumn long and all alone, 
I trod a path through the woods 
While I prayed and fretted and watched
The leaves go bright as pennies.
Behind me walked ghost years
I thought I’d shaken.
Teach me the steps. I know
There is a difference between
Seeing the way and walking it,
But my trust is loss-hearted and heavy.
Put it through its unresting,
Unhasting paces. 

Lord, do not remember the sins of my youth.
Forget the years I mistook my fears for virtues.
Forget my empty renunciations.
Remember me through your lasting love.
Imagine me through your mercy.

I stood a season-long watch
In the draughty chapel, listening
For your voice between breaths of bellsong.
I went wrong at long turns and saw it too late.
Will you ravel me back and piece me together?
Or is the friendship of the Lord
Nearness as I come apart?
Show me what there is to know
In the way I need to know it.
Sweet singer, there is always more 
Of your kindness than I thought was left.
Pardon me. 

I have longed for peace
But never learned it.
My days are harried, scraped bare,
Blurred from bed to bed,
And chased with a short, beaten sleep. 
Turn to me and be gracious.
I found a trouble larger than I am.
I can stretch my hands and touch
Both walls of my hope,
So small a cell it is. 
Inside, I worry at the promises of the Almighty 
As a dog worries a bone.
Show me the way of peace
And I will walk it. 
Hold my careworn, threadbare 
heart completely still.
Guard me. Deliver me.
Show me the snowdrops 
Crowded in the dooryard
When winter comes. 

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Catch up With the Darkling Psalter

Psalms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29, 31, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 46, 50, 51, 53, 54, 62, 63, 65, 66, 73, 74, 75, 84, 86, 88, 90, 91, 100, 107, 110, 114, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 139, 140, 142, 147, 148.

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