The Lord is My Shepherd: The Twenty-Third Psalm. Illustrated by Gennady Spirin.
The text should be familiar to most Christians. Perhaps even outside the Christian realm is this one known. The 23rd Psalm has such a poetical flow about it that is very evocative. This is probably *horrible* to admit, but when I read these words, it brings to mind the scene in Gone With The Wind (where Scarlett is nursing the soldiers in the army hospital) right before the seige of Atlanta begins. I believe the shot is of a stained glass window. You can hear the sounds of cannons in the background. Anyway, my confession time is over!
The text is the King James Version of the Bible.
So let's say you know the text, what would make you want this book in your collection? The artwork perhaps. Each two page spread has an incredibly detailed and most often exquisite artistic rendering. These spreads will appeal to some more than others. (There is something very old-fashioned and traditional about the art. Not that it isn't beautiful. But I fail to find it breath-takingly beautiful. The art didn't wow me.) Or perhaps this might make an ideal way to aid memorization of the 23rd Psalm. (That I could understand completely. I attended a Christian school that was big on memorization.)
Rereading my review, it might seem I'm a harsh critic. That isn't at all the case. It's not that I disliked this one at all. I think the Scripture speaks for itself. And in many ways the art does as well. You'll either be drawn to it, or you won't. Nothing that I say--one way or the other--will persuade you.
| The LORD Is My Shepherd |
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| 1 | The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
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| 2 | He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
| | he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.17 |
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| 3 | He restoreth my soul:
| | he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. |
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| 4 | Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
| | I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; | | thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. |
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| 5 | Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
| | thou anointest my head with oil; | | my cup runneth over. |
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| 6 | Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
| | and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. |
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© Becky Laney of Young Readers
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