Of David
(Psalm 26)
Enter into the controversy,
YeHOWAH.
Vindicate me,
O, Self-Existent, Eternal One,
For I, in innocence of heart
And integrity of mind
Have taken staff in hand
To travel the correct path.
And in YeHOWAH
Have I got placed confidence—
I lay upon the ground
Before Him;
I cast my burdens
Upon His back.
I will not waver about
On feeble legs.
I will not totter and fall.
Have I not turned away
From the dwelling place
Of the empty,
Of the void,
Of those lacking?
These mortal men
Whose lives are as
The crashing of waves
Filled with destructive power,
Laying waste—
People whose deeds reach
Beyond the field of time and space,
Whose plans are hidden, furtive.
I will not dwell among them,
Nor will I fill
The emptiness by entering in.
My haters,
The assembly of those
Who rush at me,
To afflict,
To break,
To crush:
These, who have left the correct path,
The morally wrong—
With these who are guilty of death,
I shall not abide,
I will not settle
Nor set up my habitation
Among them.
I will not establish
Nor take in marriage
The guilty and condemned.
Wash my garments
In purity.
Cleanse me
In innocence.
With the hollows of my hands,
I will cast forth a sacrifice.
I will send forth incense
Unto Your altar,
O YeHOWAH.
I will hear with understanding.
My voice shall confess
Thanksgiving,
Praise,
And hymns of joy.
I will distinguish
All Your extraordinary works.
I will declare every part of them.
I breathe with longing,
I greatly desire
Your dwelling place,
O, Self-Existent, Eternal One,
The curtains of splendor,
And the abundance and riches
Found in the tent of Your habitation!
Do not draw me back
Or gather me
Together with the rotten fruit:
The one counted as guilty,
The one who bears the blame.
Do not collect my nephesh—
My living, breathing self—
With the men stained
With the blood of the innocent.
Their plans and devices
Are evil counsel,
The works of their hands
Idolatry,
Lewdness,
Adultery,
Fornication,
And wickedness.
Yet,
In simplicity
And uprightness,
I take staff in hand,
I travel upon the correct path.
Pay the ransom for me!
Loose me from bondage
And set me free!
Pity me,
For I am very low.
Stoop with kindness
And show Your favor
Toward me.
I stand firm.
My feet rest in level country.
Among the congregation,
I will kneel and place a gift
Before YeHOWAH,
The Power and Authority
In Yashar’EL.
Pamela Glasgow
The Psalm Project represents my desire for a deeper understanding of the Word of YAHUAH. It is not a mechanical translation, a one-word-for-word exchange from Hebrew to English. We have those. This is is a lyrical adaptation of the many possibilities hidden in the Hebrew, arranged with consideration for the poetic and musical intent of the original writer. I pray you are as enriched in the reading as I was in the transcribing.
If you enjoyed this article, then consider becoming a Patron here at The Unexpected Cosmology! With Patron status, you will be able to access and download ALL of the Archived articles here on TUC!