prayer, work in progress

I am working on translating the muslim prayer to the Old Testament.  In some cases I look for close translations.  In other cases where the muslim concept doesn't fit, I look for appropriate substitutions that fit into the pattern of the prayer.  Below is what I have so far in English (translated by me).  (I will also have a Hebrew version.)  Comments welcome.


function pray_in_english(reps)

        stand

        "Yehovah most high" (Psalm 7:17) raise hands
       
        for rep = 1 to reps do

                stand, hands on chest
               
                "The arrogant ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your teaching.  I remember your judgements from history, Yehovah, and find comfort.  I remember your name, Yehovah, in the night, and I follow your teaching." (Psalm 119:51,52,55)
               
                "Yehovah most high" raise hands
               
                hands on knees
               
                3X "Give honor to Yehovah." (Psalm 29:2)
               
                stand
               
                "I will praise Yehovah who counsels me.  This is my God, and I will praise him." (Psalm 16:7, Exodus 15:2)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Great is the honor of Yehovah." (Psalm 138:5)
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit
               
                "Yehovah, forgive my sin." (Psalm 25:11)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Great is the honor of Yehovah."
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit

                if reps > 2 and rep==2 then muslims add something which we will sit through

        end

        "Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers.  Because if his delight is in Yehovah's teaching, and he meditates on it day and night:  He will be like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, and all that he does will prosper.  Not so the wicked who are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.  For Yehovah knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin." (Psalm 1)

        turn right "Peace and the mercy of Yehovah be on you."
        turn left "Peace and the mercy of Yehovah be on you."

        (in mosque)
        turn right "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah"
        turn left "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah"

end

Here is my current version of the prayer.  I gave up on close translations because I want the message to be an Old Testament message.  But this time I kept much closer to the form of the Muslim prayer.  I would really like feedback but this probably won't make much sense to someone who hasn't done the Muslim prayer.  Anyway, here it is:


function pray_in_english(reps)

        stand

        "Yehovah most high" (Psalm 7:17) raise hands
       
        for rep = 1 to reps do

                stand, hands on chest
               
                "The arrogant ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your teaching.  I remembered your judgments from history, Yehovah, and found comfort.  I remembered your name, Yehovah, in the night, and I will keep your teaching.  Keep me from a false way and show me your teaching.  I have chosen a way of truth." (Psalm 119:51,52,55,29,30)
               
                "Yehovah most high" raise hands
               
                hands on knees
               
                3X "Your teaching is my delight." (Psalm 119:77)
               
                stand
               
                "Give me understanding and I will observe your teaching, and I will keep it with all my heart." (Psalm 119:34)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Your teaching is truth." (Psalm 119:142)
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit
               
                "Give me understanding and I will live." (Psalm 119:144)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Your teaching is truth."
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit

                if rep==2 or rep==reps then

                        "Yehovah is our god, Yehovah is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

                end

        end

        "God of vengeance, Yehovah, God of vengeance, show yourself.  Rise up, judge of the earth, repay the proud.  How long will the wicked, Yehovah, how long will the wicked rejoice and spout arrogance?  All the doers of evil crush your people, Yehovah, and defile your inheritance.  Will a destructive government that makes trouble by law be joined to you?  They band together against righteous souls and condemn innocent blood.  But Yehovah is my stronghold and my god is the rock of my refuge.  And he will bring on them their wickedness, and for their evil he will destroy them, Yehovah, our god, will destroy them." (Psalm 94:1-5,20-23)

        "Praise Yehovah all nations, commend him all peoples.  Because he has great kindness for us and Yehovah's truth is eternal.  Praise Yehovah." (Psalm 117)

        turn right/left "Peace and the mercy of Yehovah be on you."

        (in mosque)
        turn right/left "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah"

end

Another version:


function pray_in_english(reps)

        stand

        "Yehovah most high" (Psalm 7:17) raise hands
       
        for rep = 1 to reps do

                stand, hands on chest
               
                "Blessed is a sound path, those who go by Yehovah's teaching.  Keep me from a false path and show me your teaching.  I have chosen a trustworthy path, I have set your judgements before me.  Give me understanding and I will observe your teaching, and I will keep it with all my heart." (Psalm 119:1,29,30,34)
               
                if rep <= 2 then say other quote

                "Yehovah most high" raise hands
               
                hands on knees
               
                3X "Your teaching is my delight." (Psalm 119:77)
               
                stand
               
                "I will keep your teaching forever." (Psalm 119:44)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Your teaching is truth." (Psalm 119:142)
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit
               
                "Give me understanding and I will live." (Psalm 119:144)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "Your teaching is truth."
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit

                if rep==2 or rep==reps then

                        "The arrogant ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your teaching.  I remember your judgments from history, Yehovah, and find comfort.  Yehovah is our god, Yehovah is one." (Psalm 119:51,52, Deuteronomy 6:4)

                end

        end

        "Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers.  Because if his delight is in Yehovah's teaching, and he meditates on it day and night, then he will be like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, and all that he does will prosper.  Not so the wicked who are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.  Because Yehovah knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin."  (Psalm 1)

        turn right/left "Peace and the mercy of Yehovah be on you."

        (in mosque)
        turn right/left "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah"

end

Another version:


function pray_in_english(reps)

        stand

        "Yehovah most high" (Psalm 7:17) raise hands
       
        for rep = 1 to reps do

                stand, hands on chest
               
                "Blessed is a sound path, those who go by Yehovah's teaching.  Keep me from a false path and show me your teaching.  I have chosen a trustworthy path, I have set your judgements before me.  Give me understanding and I will observe your teaching, and I will keep it with all my heart." (Psalm 119:1,29,30,34)
               
                if rep <= 2 then say other quote

                "Yehovah most high" raise hands
               
                hands on knees
               
                3X "Your teaching is my delight." (Psalm 119:77)
               
                stand
               
                "Your teaching is truth." (Psalm 119:142)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "I will keep your teaching forever." (Psalm 119:44)
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit
               
                "And I will walk in freedom because I seek your principles." (Psalm 119:45)
               
                "Yehovah most high" bow
               
                3X "I will keep your teaching forever." (Psalm 119:44)
               
                "Yehovah most high" sit

                if rep==2 or rep==reps then

                        "The arrogant ridicule me, but I do not turn away from your teaching.  I remember your judgments from history, Yehovah, and find comfort." (Psalm 119:51-52)

                end

        end

        "And Moses said:  Yehovah is our god, Yehovah is one.  Love Yehovah your god with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  These words that I am giving you today are to be on your mind.  Teach them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you go on your way, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 5:1, 6:4-7)

        turn right/left "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" meaning "Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah."

end