The Eskimo 23rd Psalm

A former Evangelical Covenant pastor in the Yup'ik    villages of Hooper Bay and Scammon Bay in Southwest Alaska recently emailed me.  He has been living among the Yup'ik Eskimo since 1974 and was looking for the name of the translator of the Eskimo 23rd Psalm that I had posted on my site some years ago.  He collects historical documents about this region and shares it with the villages, and wrote to share this background with me. 
 
Tim (also known as Kanglek, one of his Yup'ik names) shares:  "...it could have been written by a missionary in the northern part of  Alaska. Loraine Burdick was a Presbyterian missionary in Barrow.  She later wrote a column in the Anchorage Daily News in which she shared drawings,  stories, and crafts about Alaska.  In 1967 she turned her  column into a book.  The book entitled Alaskettes included the 23rd Psalm.   She said this adaptation of the 23rd Psalm first appeared  in David C. Cook's 'Adult Bible Class.'  Author unknown.    She gave no date. "  (Thanks Tim!) 

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Eskimo 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my master;              
I am his dog.

He makes me lie down in soft snow;
He leads me across firm ice;
He calls to me encouragingly.

He drives me on good trails
because I belong to him.

Yes, though I travel              
Through storms and troubles,
I will not be afraid
Because he is with me.

My harness is securely fastened
And his hand is on the sled.
             
He guards while I eat,
Though enemies lurk near.
He doctors my hurts.
My heart overflows with gratitude. 

Only kindness and gentle care
will be mine from the hands of this master

And I will be on his team
forever.

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