Wicked ways are turned into hell and all the nations that forget divinity. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ages. Arise, O guide, let not flesh prevail. Let my heathen thoughts be judged in thy sight. Put them in awe, that is, that the nations may know themselves to be but human. Selah.
Text Notes
- This King James Inclusive Version retains the usage of "hell" in the OT unlike most contemporary versions. The dozens of occurrences are overwhelmingly present tense,i.e. Hell is Now.
- "Awe" captures more fully the semantic range of the original and is more appropriate in psalms for meditation than the rendering "fear".
Reflection
To forget divinity, that of God in every person, is to be "turned into hell". This text also makes explicit what it means to be wicked: to forget the needy. And, to allow the "expectation of the poor" to perish. These are truly "heathen thoughts" that I must overcome with love, which flows from God, my divine center.
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