Some translations of the Bible make almost every verse sound poetic, such as the King James Version, which can often be scanned into iambic pentameter (basically, five upbeats per line.)
Hebrew poetry, however, relies more on patterns of thought, such as a statement further developed to bring spiritual depth and insight. Often, these verses can readily slip into syllabic poems, which use a 5/7/5 count of syllables on three successive lines.
When this type of poem focuses on God the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, I call them Highku, after the most High God but with a nod to the haiku form such as shown here:
Psalm 36:9
For with the Lord is
the fountain of life, and in
His Light we see light.
Romans 8:28
For we know all things
will work together for good
for those who love God.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord our God is
in our midst! He rejoices
over us with song.
Or a verse can be paraphrased as shown in this example from Psalm 33.
Sing about God’s Word.
Believe in His promises –
each one meant for you!
Bible verses can also become free verse or a prayer-song as in this passage from Psalm 143.
Let me hear Thy loving kindness
in the morning, LORD,
for I trust –
oh, I trust in You.
Teach me The Way
in which I should walk,
for to You I lift up
my soul – my life!
For to You, I lift up my soul.
Nothing replaces Holy Scripture! Sometimes, though, a contemporary-sounding poem can speak to readers who might not ever open a Bible.
May God guide the work we've been given to do in Jesus' Name.
