11 Comments
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Shiloh Phoenix's avatar

I have read this dozens of times now. All of your psalms are amazing and profound, but this one especially stands out. Thank you.

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Timothy's avatar

"You never wanted me to barter

A better deal with you,

Though I tired myself with trying.

You wanted me to wait until

The quiet filled me all the way up.

So here I am. My hands are empty.

My plans are gone.

Pierce me straight through,

And scrawl your lines on

The paper walls of my living heart."

A good description of poverty of spirit.

Thanks for your take on this Psalm.

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Ellery Frost's avatar

Wow - what a beautiful piece

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Fanny Bea Wilde's avatar

Most all of his pieces are this good! The best way to start a day in this crazy world we’re living in.

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Naomi Brown's avatar

Definitely my favourite so far!

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Erin Mount's avatar

I love this one so much. Psalm 40 is my favorite. Thank you for your work!

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N.K. Harish's avatar

"I was answered"

Some answers satisfy the questioner; while others change the questioner. This is an excellent way of showing how God's answers change us.

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Nicole Boucher's avatar

Beautifully written.

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Julie's avatar

While reading the Bible I got stuck at the Psalms. No matter the biblical translation. To me- David, the whiner. David, the pleader. David, drawing black lines in the sand. You know how I feel about your translations, so I won't continue saying it here. But I will say that your "renditions" have led me somewhere unexpected when it comes to words that I find in the Psalms. Unexpectedly grateful. A little

over a year ago I dreamed of dead rabbits. And weirdly the Darkling Psalter appeared in my life. I didn't have to seek it out, but it simply dropped itself in my lap. Thank you.

PS- a year later and I'm still stuck in the Psalms

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Andy Patton's avatar

I'm glad you're finding these helpful, Julie! Yes... the psalms are tricky. This might not be a surprise given this project, but I get stuck on the language. We have so many good translations, but sometimes they still don't feel relevant. Other than drummers, who praises God with clanging cymbals these days, you know?

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Abigail's avatar

So, so good. Our sermon on Sunday was on Psalm 40, and the good old fashioned altar call gave us the chance to show our bodies that there is a place to go and leave all the burdens. I love this one. "But when your grace rose and ran. / It was sunrise; it was floodtide. I was shaken..."

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