A few years ago I started a project and in honor of the ending of national poetry month, I am going to start a new blog tradition! The project is rewriting the Psalms from the Bible in a more feminist, inclusive manner. Other poets have already done this, but I honestly did not know that when I started the project! I am also horrible at finishing the artsy projects that I start, so in order to encourage myself to finish what I started, I am going to post one of my efforts once a week! I would absolutely LOVE any and all honest criticism-one day I would like to have them published, but I cannot do that if I never receive honest feedback! I have only shown them to a few people and those that have seen them, have liked them, but that does not mean that you will too... This first psalm is meant to be read in the call and answer style, with "L" meaning "Leader" and "P" for the "People."
Psalm 1
L: Blessed is the woman, man, or child who does not walk in the counsel of the ignorant
P: But walks with them
L: Nor stands in the path of sinners
P: But stands with them
L: Nor sits in the seat of the scornful
P: But sits with them.
All: One does not have to follow another’s counsel in order to feel their pain.
Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of LOVE, and who meditates upon LOVE’s teachings both day and night.
L: O Blessed One, you shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water that brings forth in its season.
P: Whose leaf also shall not wither;
All: And whatever you do in truth shall prosper.
L: The ignorant are not to be feared, but are like dead weeds which the wind drives
away. Therefore, the ignorant shall not stand in the judgement.
P: But they will not be forgotten, for there is always room in the congregation of the righteous.
All: For LOVE knows the way of the righteous is a yearning inside every hungry heart and that one day the path of ignorance shall be no more.
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I came upon this Blog from a link, and when I saw this post, I just had to comment.The Word of God is God inspired,and should not be trifled with I feel. I don't know much about feminism, but I feel and believe that it is way out of proportion to my beliefs. I think you should post the original Psalm, and then the changes you make to it. It seems that many people like to take the Bible and have a go at having it make more sense. I read the King James Version and it is poetry as it is. Also Man was made first as it is written, woman was made to be his helper...not a slave..but a helper. Men are special and were created in the image of God. I have pasted what the King James Version below.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
I don't believe it is ok to twist the words of the Lord.
I hope you post this so others can agree or disagree.
Thank you for posting the original psalm. I'll probably provide a link to a source that has the original version, so that people can compare, when I have more time.
That's fine for you to believe that the Bible or "Word of God" is "God inspired," though as a progressive, feminist Christian, I do not share the same belief, but believe the Bible can be interpreted. I do not believe that men are more special than women are, but that both are equal in Godde's eyes and that both are created in the Holy One's image.