The Bay Psalm Book was the first book printed in the New World, in 1640. Its working of the Psalms into English metrical form, while not exactly praised by poets and critics today, shows something interesting about poetics in English, and the great potential for English poetics in terms of syntax. I also find that these renderings very refreshing in their simplicity when compared with the King James versions which are so much more formal. Below is Psalm 23, first as written in the Bay Psalm Book (1640), and then from the King James version (1611).
The Lord to mee a shepheard is, want therefore shall not I.
Hee in the foldsof tender-grasse, dth cause mee downe to lie:
To waters calm me gently leads
Restore my soule doth hee:
he doth in paths of righteousness:
for his names sake leade mee.
Yea though in valley of deaths shade I walk, none ill I’le feare:
because thou art with mee, thy rod, and staffe my comfort are.
For mee a table thou hast spread,
in presence of my foes:
thou dost annoynt my head with oyle, my cup it over-flowes.
Goodnes & mercy surely shall all my dayes follow mee:
and in the Lods house I shall dwell
so long as dayes shall bee.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he ledeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shdow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.