Contemplative Bible Reading

Today’s contemplation on the Word is a bit different. I recently read Psalm 19:14 and I had to stop and think for a while – a long while. Here is the New International Version, the version I read most days.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

I find little to say about this. I just read it again and again with long pauses of thought between readings. While writing this post, I decided to find the more poetic version – the King James Version. I guess this is the King James Version. The copyright expired on it long ago, and people have edited it so many times I doubt that I could find a good King James Version. Anyways, this is from biblegateway.com which matches the 1987 printing.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Next, I turned to The Message. I know many people who don’t like The Message. I know a few people who love it. I view it as a 21st century amplified Bible. I like the thoughts expressed on this verse.

These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

I conclude with the New Century Version. As a writing engineer, this is probably closest to what I would write.

I hope my words and thoughts please you.
Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.