It was a real treat to visit family in Alberta earlier this month and to celebrate a family wedding this last weekend in Vancouver. The start of summer has been busy for me! Not to mention that I’ve been organizing a new group for writerly folks with our second gathering this afternoon, I’m scheduled to preach for the next two Sundays, have ongoing editing work, and shhhh . . . I’ve just completed a book proposal and sample intro for a new book—although I’m still figuring out how I’ll make time to write the rest of it in the midst of everything else!

More on that later, and in the meantime, here is a peaceful scene from my vacation followed by another version of Psalm 23 using the letter E. Thank you, Elfrieda Schroeder, for sharing your creative reflection on this well-loved psalm.

Psalm 23 with the Letter E
by Elfrieda Schroeder

El Shaddai* is my energetic guide.
He makes me lie down in emerald green pastures.
He helps me enter into still estuaries.
He energizes my soul!
The enclave to which He leads me will be the exact one I need!
Even though I walk through the most enigmatic valley
I envision no evil
For you are with me.
Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
Even though my enemies are ever near me
I can eat at a table you’ve prepared for me.
Every day of my life I will enter the house of the Lord,
Energized by your beauty and your love.

*a title in Hebrew, often translated “God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1)

 

So far we’ve completed paraphrases of Psalm 23 with 17 of the 26 letters of the alphabet. It’s a beautiful way to meditate on the psalm and have fun at the same time. If you’d like to try it with one of the letters not yet covered, choose from K, O, U, X, Y, Z. Or choose any letter of the alphabet. I’d love to see what you come up with!

For further inspiration and encouragement, check out the following list of our other paraphrases so far. Where there is a short excerpt, click the title to see the rest.

My Abba Psalm (in A) – Elfrieda Schroeder

Abba is my Alpha and my Omega.
Absolute rest beside green pastures and aquamarine streams
acquiesce my soul to acquire the right paths for my Abba’s sake.
I am not afraid even though I walk through alleys.
Abba, you are with me. Your arms around me give me absolute assurance. Abundance at my table astounds my archenemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
Abba, it is above and beyond what I need!
Astounding assurance of your absolute love assists me always.
I will abide in Abba’s abode all of my days.

Psalm 23 Brought to You by the Letter B – April Yamasaki

He binds up my brokenness.
He bears me on the best byways because of his benevolence.
Even when I am bewildered and bleary, I can be brave,
for you are behind me, before me, beside me.

Psalm 23 in the Key of C – James Matichuk

My Creator is caretaker and captain,
with him I crave nothing
At his command, I lay couched in clover,
he carries me to where calm currents run their course.
He cleanses and collects me— my cowardly, crumbled soul.

Psalm 23 in the Letter D – Chris Wallace

Declarations of delight and desire do not dwindle for days,
and I definitively dwell with the Divine for decades and decades of dawns! – see the comment section in the link

Psalm 23 in the Letter E – April Yamasaki

Surely you enlighten and empower me
every day I exist on this earth,
and I will exult in my Lord, my Everything, for all eternity.

Psalm 23 in the Letter F – Clifton Roth

The faithful Father fulfills me.
He frees me from frenzy and the fury of frantic feelings;
He freshens my fortitude.
He firms up my footing, affirming the fame of his Fatherliness.
Finding myself in foggy frame of mind,
I fear no foe, for I am fastened to you.
You fend off fierce foxes and you feel my feelings.
You fix a feast for me in front of ferocious fools.
Your favor falls freely down onto my forehead and face,
my flagon is full and flowing over.
For your friendship and faithful love is fail-proof
and will fervently follow me, and I will be fulfilled in Father’s family forever.

Psalm 23 in the Letter G – April Yamasaki

Even though I grumble and groan at the gloom of death,
I grasp your hand for you are with me.
You guard and ground and grow me.

Psalm 23 in the Letter H – April Yamasaki

When my heart is heavy and the days are hard,
I hold on, hang on, to your hand that holds me:
your hedge of protection, my haven from harm,
your Holy Spirit, my Highest Help.

Psalm 23 Inspired by the Letter I – Joy Lenton

The Immortal one is my ideal investor;
I shall not be impoverished because he has immense and incalculable worth.

Psalm 23 in El – Mel Sawatzky

He liberates my languishing soul by leading me down His lane that’s laudable, even though I limp through the lowlands of lingering lament. I am Lion-hearted for there is no lack of strength.

Psalm in the Letter M – Melodie Davis

Surely his mysterious mercy shall follow me mindfully all the measure of my marvelous life: and I will mellow in the house of my Maker for millennia.

Psalm 23, a few thoughts in the key of M – Michele Morin

The Maker is my Master; may I not murmur.
He makes me meander in meadows and marvel beside mirror-glass meres.
My mindset mellows as I melt into mindfulness of morality.
…
Meanwhile, in spite of my mortality, my memory molds mountains into molehills as you minister to me, moment by moment, by might and by mildness.
…
My master multiplies magnificent meals as I meet multitudes of the malevolent; my mind is marinating in his munificence.

The Lord is My Provider – Phyllis Ramer

Your presence permeates my person. Your parenting and protection provide for my well-being. You prepare a party for me in the presence of my perpetrators. You pour promises into my soul. – Canadian Mennonite, page 12

Psalm 23 in the Letter Q (with a bit of ‘K’) – Carole Sparks

The Quintessential One is my keeper; He quenches every quandary. He quiets me in exquisite quadrants. We quest beside quiescent waters. He quickens my quiddity. He quarterbacks me in qualities of His quintessence for the sake of his kudos.

You construct a banquet before me with a quorum of my enemies; you quench my head with oil; I quaff what cannot be quantified.

Psalm 23 in the Letter R – Rita Enns

Surely God’s riches and redeeming love will take me through the rest of my life, and I will rejoice when I reach my final destination. What a reunion that will be!

Psalm 23 in the Letter S – Carole Sparks

The Sovereign is my shepherd, I am sufficiently supplied. He settles me in a supple country side, He escorts me beside silent streams, He strengthens my soul.

Psalm 23, Letter T Translation – Leslea Linebarger

The Teacher is my traveling companion,
I trust that we are a team.
He invites me to tarry on a tree-lined turf,
he takes me on tranquil trails,
he tends my true self.
He tutors me in threads of trust
for he is Truth itself.

Even though tremendous terrors take me by the throat,
I tremble not,
for Thou art my tangible presence.
Thy teachings triumph over my timidity.

You treat me to taste of a top-tiered table,
tempting those who would threaten and torment me.
Your treasure is too much to tabulate,
it tumbles out.

Surely your tenderheartedness to me will make me ever thankful
and transform me
and I will trust in the touch of the Teacher
till the end of time.

Psalm 23 in the Letter T – April Yamasaki

Truly your tender, tenacious love will travel with me today and in all my tomorrows, and I will thrive in thanksgiving together with you in the time beyond all time.

Psalm 23 with the Letter W – Ruth Smith Meyer

Even when I walk through the dark wastelands and what may be the windup of my life, I can be worry-free, for you watch out for my well-being,

Writing/Reflection Prompt: Are you up for the challenge? Thank you to readers who have already responded to this post. I’ve added their contributions in the comments below. The remaining letters of the alphabet are now: K, O, U, X, Y, Z. Or choose any letter—repeats are totally fine. Please add your version in the comments, post your link, or contact me, so I can add your paraphrase to my list. I’d love to see what you come up with!