I’ve been doing “aesthetic” translations of the psalms. I find the King James versions to be more formal and less immediate than what I think I find in the originals. I don’t know if anyone would consider them aesthetically pleasing, but I have fun anyway.

These are not intended to be exact from a scholarly perspective, but to be poems.

This is a translation of Psalm 130

With Bated Breath

Out of the depths I cry to you, Yahweh.
  Lord, hear my voice!
    Open your ear to my prayer.

If you, Yah, should start 
  Tracking our perversity,
    Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is pardon:
  We are astonished.

I look for Yahweh
  With bated breath!
I hope in his word
  With bated breath
    Like watchmen for morning
    Like watchmen for morning.

Israel, hope in Yahweh!
  Because in Yahweh is faithful love
    And abundant deliverance.

He will deliver Israel
  From all his perversity.