I’ve done some (and may do more) “aesthetic” translations of the psalms. My intent is to make them more immediate and more appealing to the modern poetic aesthetic.

No idea whether I’ve been successful, but I have fun. I’m particularly pleased with this one.

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

The Good Life

The good life ---
     a man who does not
          walk in the wisdom of wicked ones
     nor
          stand by the conduct of criminals
     nor
          sit in the seat of the scornful.

No!

Yahweh's instruction delights him!
Yahweh's precepts occupy his mind
     day and night.

Like a tree
     planted by a stream of water
             giving fruit in its time
             leaves never withering
Everything he does succeeds!

The evil life ---
    nothing like this
            but like chaff
                blown by the breeze.

Therefore

Wicked ones will not withstand judgment
       nor criminals congregate with the righteous
       
Yahweh intimately informs himself about the righteous
       but the wicked wander lost and forgotten.