050-12

The prayer begins as a breath carried across the water: a first line in each of the album’s languages — hear my prayer, lead me to still waters.

Psalm 143 as the prayer of a tired heart: hear me, show me the way I should walk, lead me on level ground — to quiet waters, to a place where I can finally rest.

The prayer in Hebrew, the language of the psalms themselves: el mayim shoktim — to still waters.

The prayer in Thai: lead me, even when I cannot see the way; speak, and I will listen.

The prayer in Mongolian, wide as the steppe: lead me to the level plain, to calm waters, to a place of rest.

Latin and Greek in turn, the old languages of the church’s prayer: Audi orationem meam — hear my prayer.

The prayer in Swahili: I don’t want to fight anymore, I just want to arrive — kwa maji tulivu, to still waters.

The prayer in Hawaiian: i nā wai mālie — to the calm waters, to a place where the soul can rest.

The prayer in Romanian: spre ape liniștite — to the waters that quiet the soul.

The prayer in Tagalog: hear my prayer, I am tired of searching — sa mga tahimik na tubig, to the still waters.

The prayer in French and Italian, line by line in turn: vers les eaux calmes — verso acque tranquille.

All the voices together: one prayer handed on from language to language until it arrives — to still waters.