Rumors of Glory » Blog Archive » The Voice of Psalms

Feb 9th, 2010 by Lucille

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I love this book. It is a new translation of the Psalms. In that same way The Message made us think about old words in a new way, this literary project does the same thing.

The Voice of Psalms holds onto the original perspective of the Psalms, but adds richness and depth. The foreword says this is a fresh expression of the timeless narrative…that involves translation and elaboration… it doesn’t ignore the role of scholars but it also values the role of writers, poets, songwriters, and artists.

To help the reader understand how the new rendering compares to the original manuscript, italic type indicates words not directly tied to a translation. These words may contain information meant to help the reader better understand the text without having to stop and read footnotes.

Here, let me give you an example:

God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn: when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in the wicked schemes, When you avoid sin’s highway, when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse. For you the Eternal One’s Word is your happiness. It is your focus – from dusk to dawn And in the nights that separate the two – you are consumed with its message. You are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry. Your fruit ripens in its time; your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun. No matter what you do, you prosper. For those who focus on sin, the story is different. They are like the fallen husk of wheat, tossed by an open wind, left deserted and alone.

The Voice of Psalms also offers several reading plans: One for Lent, One for Worship and Praise, and One for Seeking Help.

The best part is that each psalm has a short commentary with questions to stimulate your interaction with what you have just read. I have made this book a regular part of my morning devotional time, and I highly recommend people buy this book.

What books do you recommend for your devotional time?

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