Psalm 19/Translation/PTS/4

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Compose a Song of the Psalm

Once the artist-translators have sufficiently internalised the psalm in the workshop setting, compose a song, poem, rap, chant, or prayer to express all or part of the psalm.

Before you start: Identify an appropriate style or genre

  • Participants are recommended to choose a style or genre that is relevant for the psalm and base their compositions on that style.
  • In this psalm several possible genres may be appropriate. They include praise of someone or something for their character. This may be possible to use in a composition about the heavens in vv. 2-7 and or the law based on vv. 8-12. Another genre may be one about wrongdoing and asking for forgiveness. This may be possible to use in a composition based on vv. 13-14.


If there is time, record examples from the culture. Transcribe and back translate your recordings in AVTT so that poetic devices may be analysed and identified. (This is a rich group activity if there is time)

Before moving on to Step 5, record the compositions.

  • Transcribe and back-translate them in AVTT if you plan to develop the compositions as a final product for performance and publication.
  • This will help you think about what you want to add or change after you have finished the process of checking and editing your translation. It will also allow consultants and other non-speakers of the language to give some input to their later development.