Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Sunday, May 3. 2009

From today's Lectionary


Psalm 23


1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.


 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
       he leads me beside quiet waters,


 3 he restores my soul.
       He guides me in paths of righteousness
       for his name's sake.


 4 Even though I walk
       through the valley of the shadow of death, 
       I will fear no evil,
       for you are with me;
       your rod and your staff,
       they comfort me.


 5 You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies.
       You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.


 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
       all the days of my life,
       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
       forever.

Posted by Bird Dog at 06:31 | Comments (14) | Trackbacks (0)

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great Verse. One of my favorites and one that I often speak to Him dailey. Thanks!

CIII
#1 CIII (Link) on 2009-05-03 06:41 (Reply)
The KJV is much better (and this from a Catholic):


The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
#2 John Hetman on 2009-05-03 08:24 (Reply)
I agree, the KJV is better. Somehow it always sounds clunky in modern translations. I don't know why that should be so.
#3 Texan99 on 2009-05-03 09:56 (Reply)
As a young boy the 23rd Psalm was committed to memory.

Growing up without an earthly father, and when overwhelmed with fear and dread.. these words would come to mind.

'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.'
#4 DucSup on 2009-05-03 10:45 (Reply)
That is an odd translation compared to the KJV. The Lord is referred to as 'He', 'The Lord', and as 'you', and none of the inconsistent references within the text capitalize the pronouns for God. It seems a little blasphemous to me to make simple such a beautiful verse.
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#5 Meta on 2009-05-03 11:01 (Reply)
KJV; NIV; Good News; whichever translation- always a beautiful and inspirational verse. Thank you for posting it today.
Tho' growing up with the KJV I do like it best....merely a matter of the familiar, I think. My grandkids think the KJV is way too old fashioned and stiff.
#6 milabro (Link) on 2009-05-03 14:11 (Reply)
Yes, in whatever version, the line about not fearing evil in the valley of the shadow of death has gotten me through a lot of crises. I love the phrase, "the valley of the shadow of death." It perfectly describes how one feels in a crisis.

Thanks for posting. I also heard this in church this morning. I go to a Lutheran church. Our pastor preached on the difference between wants and needs, based on the first line, and he actually brought the different translations into the sermon. Some translations say,"therefore I shall want nothing" and some say, "therefore I shall not be in need." But both imply that if you have God, you have what you need/want. Excellent sermon.
#7 Park Slope Pubby on 2009-05-03 14:58 (Reply)
What we want is a steak at Peter Lugar's. What we need is the food of the Spirit.
#7.1 Bird Dog on 2009-05-03 15:41 (Reply)
Yup, that was the gyst of the sermon. Of course, the pastor took a lot longer to get there.
#7.1.1 Park Slope Pubby on 2009-05-03 16:25 (Reply)
And what about Peter Lugar's needs?
#7.1.2 KRW on 2009-05-03 17:06 (Reply)
My favorite Bible verse.
#8 feeblemind on 2009-05-03 17:06 (Reply)
I have a few glowing, profound memories--pictures of my working class mom, making a living for three of us-- with joy Without complaint--her pure delight in being free to create her own company, even though it required ten hour days of physical work.
My mom delighted in being her own boss--back in the early fifties and sixties, and seventies, and eightess--SHE WAS FREE-- SHE WAS HER OWN BOSS. She rose early--worked hard at a legitimate job, with great skill, she worked for a better life. She saved her money--she invested with care. BUT, most of all what she was trying to do was to make the road easier for her daughter and her grand daughter--for all the years of her life--for every day of her life--that is what her focus was!!
Having said that let me take you to a lunch hour. A day back in the mid 1950's. My mom drive home from her little shop to fix lunch for us. During the summer it was my great delight to have that extra 30 minutes with her. This verse brings back a memory of a mid day in the kitchen. Mom had come home from work to fix us lunch. I was in the process of memorizing these words (King James version). I could remember some lines, some words, and was trying desperately to tie them together. My mom is at the kitchen sink--cleaning up from lunch. I stand there in the kitchen--my ten year old little self-her and I in the light streaming in over the kitchen sink. I recite, she corrects and encourages. I recite-- and she congratulates. This verse will be on my lips the last moment of this lfie--as it what is on my lips at the beginning of a thoughtful existence. Thank you
#9 apple pie on 2009-05-03 22:06 (Reply)
My daughter read the 23rd Psalm yesterday in church (children's Sunday). I slid her the KJV rather than the NIV, and she read it perfectly. What a beautiful prayer / poem.

We had a different version in the Marines – something about being the meanest MF in the valley.
#10 NJSoldier on 2009-05-04 08:28 (Reply)
Good for you NJSoldier! Teach her the beauty and magic of words and she will never be conned--nor, will she live a life without beauty. As for your version--THANK GOD!

SEMPER FI!
#11 apple pie on 2009-05-04 23:46 (Reply)

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