I wrote most of this on August 24th, 2019, but never published it here till today. So it gives the chance to look at what the Bible means, what it’s for, if you like.
Sadly, NIV, the New International Version of the Bible, seems to come with a loud agenda, as blazoned on its back cover, in an uncompromising quote from the New Testament. Surely, the Old Testament is an anthology of Hebrew literature, not a guide for going to heaven when we die. Not that I’m a theological scholar. The Psalms are principally joyous songs of praise. This one is outstanding.
The original text is shown in navy blue.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
Comments
Vincent
—I consider this fragment of Psalm 107, in its English translation of 1611, to be one of the world’s finest poems. No idea who wrote it, when or in what circumstance. (verses 23-31)
—Was struck by its enduring relevance, never more so than today.
—Found it folded in two on my bookshelf. How come? Remembered that in the distant past I’d noticed this psalm is not included within my copy of The Bible Designed to be Read as Literature. I’d wanted to correct such a glaring oversight
—Turns out this “distant past” was a month ago.
—Why do I try every day to put forth words of my own, when one of the world’s greatest books contains such poetry and wisdom? When it says the very things I want to say?
Ellie Clayton
“that they may prepare a city for habitation;
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.”
If Blake has taught me anything it is that I am the city which must be prepared for habitation, the field which must be sown with the good seed, the vineyard whose grapes produce wine of the spirit, and the fruit which yields bread that feeds the soul of man.
Love Abounds, ellie
Compare the Authorized (King James Version) with the NIV, New International Version
a wayfarer’s notes 