The Saint John's Bible - Psalms

Product Description

The second in a seven-volume series of full-color, page-by-page reproductions from The Saint John’s Bible, Psalms engages the eye and ear with five distinct scripts and exquisite illuminations that include digital voice prints of sacred songs from many ethnic and religious traditions.

The Book of Psalms or “praises” is known as the prayer book of the Bible. For centuries, it has been a source of prayer, devotion, and inspiration. Part of the popularity of the Psalms is that they incorporate the entire breadth of human emotion and experience—joy, fear, anger, love—all the things we bring to God in our prayer.

Visual representations of chants from Benedictine, Native American, Muslim, Taoist and other traditions are the basis for illuminations of the Psalms. The varying pitch of the chants is rendered graphically to provide a motif for the abstract illumination. Every Psalm page features a small gold image that graphically renders the chanting of the monks from Saint John’s Abbey. This process of reading of the Psalms is a continuous reminder that the Psalms are to be sacred songs—and that in such singing God is present.

Jackson chose colors to represent different themes, and designs to symbolize the different types of Psalms. He devised a way of weaving the two together that resulted in a unique script, colors and shading. Readers can identify the patterns representing the national history of Israel corresponding with the individual types of Psalms.

The way the Psalms appear in The Saint John’s Bible provide a way to read our favorite Psalms with new eyes so that we might truly see the Psalms whether they are sung or read poetically.

The Saint John's Bible will be bound in seven magnificent volumes comprising nearly 1,100 pages, measuring 15 7/8 inches wide x 24 1/2 inches tall. The translation of the Saint John's Bible is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). It was chosen because it is theologically sound, and has the distinction of being officially authorized for use by major Christian churches.

Commissioned by the monks of Saint John's Abbey and University as a Bible for our time, The Saint John's Bible is a unique blend of ancient methods, materials and tools with modern themes, images, technology and text. Whether you have a deep reverence for Scripture, are drawn to the precise work of the quill, are an avid art collector, or are fascinated by the making of The Saint John's Bible, you now have the opportunity to take home the experience of this project through full-color, page-by-page reproduction books.

See also:
The Saint John's Bible - Pentateuch
The Saint John's Bible - Gospels and Acts
The Saint John's Bible - Prophets
The Saint John's Bible - Wisdom Books

For the 4 Volume Set:
The Saint John's Bible 4 Volume Set