Rushing Psalms

Psalms have been on my mind lately. I'm working my way through them in my Bible reading. Six pages a day. Six pages of psalms are a little bit overwhelming. One psalm a day might be a future plan.

When I started this, I would have predicted that I wouldn't have found anything of value in the book of Job, and would enjoy the book of Psalms. Unexpectedly (is that a word?), Job held my attention -- although I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, I did find myself looking forward to the next days reading. Psalms has been -- well -- kind of like reading poetry through a car window as it rushes by.

Today's Sunday school lesson, taught by Lady Anita, was about Psalm 8. This is one of my favorites, so I'll leave you with part of it. I've liked it for many years (Psalm 8:3-5; RSV).

When I look at thy heavens, the work of thy fingers,the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him? Yet thou hast made him little less than God,and dost crown him with glory and honor.

Let's do a little translation comprison -- the same verses from The Message:

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way? Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light.

I have to say, I usually like The Message, but this time it leaves me flat. This passage needs the poetry of King James, or its cousin, Revised Standard.