It’s dark.
This is a valley of shadows.
This is a valley of death.
My grief and not my cup runs over.
Too many earthly shepherds flail
with rod and staff;
they maim and kill their flock,
and leave the predators untouched.
My enemies enjoy the feast
that I will never taste.
This is place from which I cry,
“De profudis clamavi ad te!”
“Mimma’amaqqim qeratika!”
“Mai loko o na wahi hohonu,
ua kahea aku au ia ‘oe!”
“Out of the depths I cry to you!”
Reassure me with your implements
of protection, Holy Shepherd,
for the night is long. I am afraid.
I turn my prayers to you.
A poem/prayer based on Psalm 23, the Revised Common Lectionary Psalm Reading for Year A, fourth Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday.
Image of The Good Shepherd by Luca Giordano – http://www.gallery.am/hy/database/item/6772/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20019538.
ordainedgeek 
Thank you for the many voices — naming that we have Pentecost within us long before the day.
I have loved the Latin translation of Psalm 130:1 for… well, forever. It’s the root of my song “De Profundis.” I added the Hawaiian translation a couple years ago. This time I decided I should finally honor the Hebrew original. Fortunately I found a transliterated version, since those skills have faded in 30 years.