The Lord is my shepherd - Owen Alstott

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 12 October 2008, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

Refrain: THE-rt LORD IDEA-LIKE SHEPHERD. ME L-A-C-K NOTHING.

1. THE-rt LORD IDEA-LIKE SHEPHERD. ME L-A-C-K NOTHING.
HE-rt GIFT-TO ME REST IN GRASS THEREABOUTS GREEN*.
HE-rt LEAD ME NEAR WATER CALM, MY SOUL INSPIRED. Refrain

2. HE-rt LEAD ME RIGHT WAY LIVE FOR HIS-rt S-A-K-E.
HAPPEN ME WALK VALLEY DARK ME FEAR EVIL NOT.
WHY? YOU-rt GO-WITH ME. YOUR-rt ROD, STAFF GIFT-TO ME COURAGE. Refrain

3. YOU-rt SET-UP TABLE FOR ME WHILE ENEMY WATCH.
MY HEAD, YOU-rt ANOINT O-I-L. MY CUP OVERFLOW. Refrain

4. ONLY GOOD THINGS AND KIND FOLLOW ME EVERYDAY MY LIFE.
AND ME LIVE LORD HIS-rt HOUSE YEARS-AND-YEARS WILL. Refrain


Notes: THE - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

IDEA-LIKE - A blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which is signed smoothly right afterwards.

SHEPHERD - SHEEP SUPERVISE AGENT.

GIFT-TO - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs up, nod downwards at wrist to show that something is given as a gift.

FEAR - (2h)[5], POs away, FOs up, hands are held far from body and move back to body in a wavy pattern.

EVIL - (2h)[3], wg while moving repeatedly > forehead. For an animated gif of this sign, see Valley Bible Church - ASL dictionary: Satan.

ROD - (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs away, are held with DH above and touching NDH. DH moves upwards.

STAFF - (2h)[F], POs > DS, FOs away. Hands are held with thumbsides touching. DH moves > NDS then > DS in C shape, like a shepherd's crook.

ANOINT - [A dot] circles head with DH thumb pointing down.

OVERFLOW - [5], PO down, FO away, covers top of [S], PO > DS, FO away, and FT wiggle as the hand moves away, like a cup overflowing. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - overflow.

KIND - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs away, NDH is held close to heart and DH circles around it.

YEARS-AND-YEARS - (2h)[S], POs > signer, FOs ><, DH is swung in small circles parallel to the chest and held over the NDH hand, finally landing on the NDH fist.

Lyrics:

Refrain: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. Refrain

2. He guides me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil;
for you are at my side with your rod and staff that give me courage. Refrain

3. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Refrain

4. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. Refrain

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