WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH
At the funeral of our much loved and admired Karen Barker this version of the 23rd Psalm was included. This version is one adopted by the Boy Scouts of America and its inclusion in Karen’s service was because of Karen’s dedication to The Scout Association and because the words were so appropriate for a Christian with Faith. The inclusion of it here is because so many people have asked for a copy of the words.
The 23rd Psalm
[As translated from English, to Kiowa Sign language, and back into literal English.]
The Great Father above a Shepherd Chief is.
I am His,
and with Him I want not.
He throws out to me a rope,
and the name of the rope is love, and He draws me to where the grass is green and the water is not dangerous,
and I eat and lie down and am satisfied.
Sometimes my heart is very weak and I fall down,
but He lifts me up again and draws me onto a good road.
His name is Wonderful.
Sometime,
it may be very soon,
it may be a long, long time,
He will draw me into a valley.
It is dark there,
but I’ll be afraid not,
for it is between those mountains that the Shepherd Chief will meet me and the hunger that I have in my heart all through this life will be satisfied.
Sometimes He makes the love rope into a whip,
but afterwards He gives me a staff to lean upon.
He puts His hand upon my head and all the tired is gone.
My cup He fills till it runs over.
What I tell is true.
I lie not.
These roads that are away ahead will stay with me through this life and after;
and afterwards I will go to live in the Big Tepee and sit down with the Shepherd Chief forever.