A Word Fitly Spoken Poetic Artistry in the First Four Acrostics of the Hebrew Psalter

"It is a new day in Psalms study, with significant contributions on canonical approaches and on Hebrew poetry. Les Maloney's study centers on a close reading of the poetry of the acrostics in Book I of the Hebrew Psalter and so reflects the contemporary emphasis on the poetic dimension of the Psalms. Maloney argues for the poetic artistry of these psalms, a very different approach than that of previous scholarly generations. 'A Word Fitly Spoken' also raises the intriguing question of the placement of four alphabetic acrostics in Book I and four in Book V of the canonical Psalter. Those engaged in contemporary Psalms scholarship will find much to digest here." (W. H. Bellinger, Jr., Chair, Department of Religion, W. Marshall and Lulie Craig Chairholder in Bible, Baylor University)
"Les Maloney's work on the acrostic psalms and the poetic figurations they contain should put to rest in their favor any debate on their artistic and theological value. Maloney has employed a critically informed imagination to demonstrate the significance of these fascinating psalms and how their literary features unfold their meanings in new and often surprising ways. I doubt that interested readers will ever read them again the same way." (James M. Kennedy, Associate Professor of Religion, Baylor University)