Neither a translation nor a paraphrase of the psalms, psalms for a Pilgrim People aims instead "to make the psalms prayable for those who find stumbling blocks in many of them as they have been variously translated into English," writes Jim Cotter.

There is much in the psalms, written many centuries ago, that still speaks to today’s reader, but there are other passages that are troubling. Cotter’s psalms take today’s realities into account by including references to present-day issues of concern, while retaining the poetry and beauty of the originals.

Jim Cotter is a priest in the Church of England, living in Sheffield and focusing his ministry on writing books of prayers and reflection, seeking to unfold the Christian inheritance in fresh ways. He is also a popular retreat leader, and visits the United States regularly.