So I am a whole week ahead of myself. I posted a bit on Abraham and the promised child a week early. Time then to think about what it means to have Psalm 89 as the chosen psalm. Poor Anglican chanters - so many verses! So they reduce it.
What is the Psalm about and how could you tell without reading it slowly? It's right there in the first (second) verse
Of the loving-kindness of יהוה
forever I will sing
from generation to generation I will make known
your faithfulness with my mouth
It is all about the loving kindness of Yahweh. I don't recommend using adonai or the Lord in English - use the name if you don't want to say the word - because then you know if you are talking about God's name or the appointed Adon, Lord that also occurs in the Psalms (like Psalm 110 Ha-shem said to my Lord).
Loving kindness begins every section of the psalm except the great lament. What - there's a great lament in this psalm? I didn't know that. You won't know unless you read the whole thing. Why is there a lament? Because this is the record at the close of Book 3 of the Psalter, of the failure of the Davidic monarchy, the failure of the promised seed Psalm 89:5, (4 in English). (Ah - connection to Abraham...)
The lectionary only gives us the promise and the happy bit - no deal for reality, folks. How is it that this psalm is about failure and closes a whole book and is answered by Psalm 90, the prayer of Moses? It is a great story - it needs study. We all recapitulate that story. We are monarchs, we are promised the ability to govern (knowing it is really The Name that governs), and we fail. What then? We remember the former loving-kindnesses sworn to David and we wait for redemption which will surely come. But the enemies? (Psalm 89:52)...
There's another reason we only read 8 verses of the 53 (52) - there's just too much to say. If you want to learn what is in the Bible, start with the Psalms and read the whole as if it were a book. This is true for anyone. The liturgy of the Synagogue has lots of psalms (tehillim - praises). The Christians should sing at least a psalm a week - or at least one a day. The other faith of Abraham pays lip service to the TNK but I bet very few read it, just as very few Christians read it well.
How do we solve such a problem? I am flummoxed, I admit. It took me 60 years to get started! Why should The Name teach through poetry? Is there any philosophical or narrative or historical or religious or personal reason for such an approach to the barriers we put up?
I put the music for the psalm in the usual place - but I haven't superimposed the translation. There was another error in the transcription compared with the Aleppo Codex - easy to spot, a failure to return to the tonic at the end of a verse. The first page has two shalsheletim which SHV interprets as a (sort-of) glissando (bars 8 and 14). The whole psalm is below including a table of the words that recur between 6 and 8 times. Give it a try.
מַשְׂכִּיל
לְאֵיתָן הָאֶזְרָחִי | 1 | An insight of Ethan the Ezrahite |
חַסְדֵי יְהוָה
עוֹלָם אָשִׁירָה לְדֹר וָדוֹר אוֹדִיעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ בְּפִי | 2 | Of the loving-kindness of יְהוָה forever I will sing from generation to generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth |
כִּי אָמַרְתִּי
עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה שָׁמָיִם תָּכִן אֱמוּנָתְךָ בָהֶם | 3 | for I said, loving-kindness ever builds heavens you will establish your faithfulness is in them |
כָּרַתִּי בְּרִית לִבְחִירִי
נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְדָוִד עַבְדִּי | 4 | I have cut a covenant with my chosen I have sworn to David my servant |
עַד עוֹלָם אָכִין זַרְעֶךָ
וּבָנִיתִי לְדֹר וָדֹר כִּסְאֲךָ סֶלָה | 5 | For evermore I will establish your seed and I will build up your throne from generation to generation Selah |
וְיוֹדוּ שָׁמַיִם פִּלְאֲךָ יְהוָה
אַף אֱמוּנָתְךָ בִּקְהַל קְדֹשִׁים | 6 | Let the heavens give thanks for your wonders יְהוָה also your faithfulness in the congregation of holy ones |
כִּי מִי בַּשַּׁחַק יַעֲרֹךְ לַיהוָה
יִדְמֶה לַיהוָה בִּבְנֵי אֵלִים | 7 | For who in the sky will compare with יְהוָה? Who has the likeness of יְהוָה among the children of God? |
אֵל נַעֲרָץ
בְּסוֹד קְדֹשִׁים רַבָּה וְנוֹרָא עַל כָּל סְבִיבָיו | 8 | God is ruthless in the plenary council of the holy ones feared above all around him |
יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי צְבָאוֹת
מִי כָמוֹךָ חֲסִין יָהּ וֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ סְבִיבוֹתֶיךָ | 9 | יְהוָה God of hosts, who is like you, Yah invincible and your faithfulness all around you? |
אַתָּה מוֹשֵׁל
בְּגֵאוּת הַיָּם בְּשׂוֹא גַלָּיו אַתָּה תְשַׁבְּחֵם | 10 | You yourself govern over the pride of the sea when its waves gloat you yourself soothe them |
אַתָּה דִכִּאתָ כֶחָלָל רָהַב
בִּזְרוֹעַ עֻזְּךָ פִּזַּרְתָּ אוֹיְבֶיךָ | 11 | You yourself crushed Rahab to contrition as one who is profaned With the arm of your strength you have scattered your enemies |
לְךָ שָׁמַיִם
אַף לְךָ אָרֶץ תֵּבֵל וּמְלֹאָהּ אַתָּה יְסַדְתָּם | 12 | Yours heavens yours also is earth world and its fullness you yourself founded them |
צָפוֹן וְיָמִין
אַתָּה בְרָאתָם תָּבוֹר וְחֶרְמוֹן בְּשִׁמְךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ | 13 | North and south you yourself created them Tabor and Hermon in your name will shout for joy |
לְךָ זְרוֹעַ עִם גְּבוּרָה
תָּעֹז יָדְךָ תָּרוּם יְמִינֶךָ | 14 | Yours is an arm with valour strong is your hand exalted your right hand |
צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט
מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְקַדְּמוּ פָנֶיךָ | 15 | Righteousness and judgment are the stability of your throne Loving-kindness and truth go before your face |
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם
יֹדְעֵי תְרוּעָה יְהוָה בְּאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ יְהַלֵּכוּן | 16 | Happy the people knowing jubilation יְהוָה in the light of your face they will walk |
בְּשִׁמְךָ יְגִילוּן כָּל הַיּוֹם
וּבְצִדְקָתְךָ יָרוּמוּ | 17 | In your name they will rejoice all the day long and in your righteousness they will be exalted |
כִּי תִפְאֶרֶת עֻזָּמוֹ אָתָּה
וּבִרְצוֹנְךָ תָּרוּם קַרְנֵינוּ | 18 | for the adornment of their strength is you yourself and in your acceptance our horn will be exalted |
כִּי לַיהוָה מָגִנֵּנוּ
וְלִקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְכֵּנוּ | 19 | For of יְהוָה is our shield and the Holy One of Israel our king |
אָז דִּבַּרְתָּ בְחָזוֹן
לַחֲסִידֶיךָ וַתֹּאמֶר שִׁוִּיתִי עֵזֶר עַל גִּבּוֹר הֲרִימוֹתִי בָחוּר מֵעָם | 20 | Then you spoke in a vision to one under your mercy and said I have agreed to help with one who prevails I have exalted a chosen from the people |
מָצָאתִי דָּוִד עַבְדִּי
בְּשֶׁמֶן קָדְשִׁי מְשַׁחְתִּיו | 21 | I have found David my servant with the oil of my holiness I have anointed him |
אֲשֶׁר יָדִי תִּכּוֹן עִמּוֹ
אַף זְרוֹעִי תְאַמְּצֶנּוּ | 22 | that my hand will be established with him also my arm will assure him |
לֹא יַשִּׁיא אוֹיֵב בּוֹ
וּבֶן עַוְלָה לֹא יְעַנֶּנּוּ | 23 | and an enemy will not have a claim on him and a child of injustice will not answer him |
וְכַתּוֹתִי מִפָּנָיו צָרָיו
וּמְשַׂנְאָיו אֶגּוֹף | 24 | and I have beaten his foes before his face and those hating him I will plague |
וֶאֱמוּנָתִי וְחַסְדִּי עִמּוֹ
וּבִשְׁמִי תָּרוּם קַרְנוֹ | 25 | And my faithfulness and my loving-kindness are with him and in my name his horn will be exalted |
וְשַׂמְתִּי בַיָּם יָדוֹ
וּבַנְּהָרוֹת יְמִינוֹ | 26 | and I have set up his hand in the sea and in the rivers his right hand |
הוּא יִקְרָאֵנִי
אָבִי אָתָּה אֵלִי וְצוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי | 27 | He will call to me you are my father my God and the rock of my salvation |
אַף אָנִי בְּכוֹר אֶתְּנֵהוּ
עֶלְיוֹן לְמַלְכֵי אָרֶץ | 28 | I myself will also make him firstborn on high to the kings of earth |
לְעוֹלָם אֶשְׁמָר לוֹ חַסְדִּי
וּבְרִיתִי נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹ | 29 | Forever I will keep my loving-kindness with him and my covenant will be his amen |
וְשַׂמְתִּי לָעַד זַרְעוֹ
וְכִסְאוֹ כִּימֵי שָׁמָיִם | 30 | And I have set up his seed for ever and his throne as the days of heaven |
אִם יַעַזְבוּ בָנָיו תּוֹרָתִי
וּבְמִשְׁפָּטַי לֹא יֵלֵכוּן | 31 | If his children forsake my instruction or fail to walk in my judgment |
אִם חֻקֹּתַי יְחַלֵּלוּ
וּמִצְוֹתַי לֹא יִשְׁמֹרוּ | 32 | If they profane my statutes or fail to keep my commandments |
וּפָקַדְתִּי בְשֵׁבֶט פִּשְׁעָם
וּבִנְגָעִים עֲוֹנָם | 33 | then I will visit their transgression with the sceptre and with touches their iniquity |
וְחַסְדִּי לֹא אָפִיר מֵעִמּוֹ
וְלֹא אֲשַׁקֵּר בֶּאֱמוּנָתִי | 34 | but my loving-kindness will not be frustrated in him and will not be proven false in my faithfulness |
לֹא אֲחַלֵּל בְּרִיתִי
וּמוֹצָא שְׂפָתַי לֹא אֲשַׁנֶּה | 35 | I will not profane my covenant and what emerges from my lips I will not feign |
אַחַת נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְקָדְשִׁי
אִם לְדָוִד אֲכַזֵּב | 36 | Once I have sworn in my holiness would I lie to David? |
זַרְעוֹ לְעוֹלָם יִהְיֶה
וְכִסְאוֹ כַשֶּׁמֶשׁ נֶגְדִּי | 37 | His seed will be forever and his throne as the sun before me |
כְּיָרֵחַ יִכּוֹן עוֹלָם
וְעֵד בַּשַּׁחַק נֶאֱמָן סֶלָה | 38 | As the moon it will be established forever a witness as faithful as the sky Selah |
וְאַתָּה זָנַחְתָּ וַתִּמְאָס
הִתְעַבַּרְתָּ עִם מְשִׁיחֶךָ | 39 | But you yourself have rejected and refused You have passed over with your anointed |
נֵאַרְתָּה בְּרִית עַבְדֶּךָ
חִלַּלְתָּ לָאָרֶץ נִזְרוֹ | 40 | You have nullified the covenant of your servant You have profaned his consecration to the earth |
פָּרַצְתָּ כָל גְּדֵרֹתָיו
שַׂמְתָּ מִבְצָרָיו מְחִתָּה | 41 | You have breached all his fences You have set up his enclosures in disarray |
שַׁסֻּהוּ כָּל עֹבְרֵי דָרֶךְ
הָיָה חֶרְפָּה לִשְׁכֵנָיו | 42 | All passing his way plunder him He becomes a reproach to his neighbours |
הֲרִימוֹתָ יְמִין צָרָיו
הִשְׂמַחְתָּ כָּל אוֹיְבָיו | 43 | You have exalted the right hand of his foes You make glad all his enemies |
אַף תָּשִׁיב צוּר חַרְבּוֹ
וְלֹא הֲקֵימֹתוֹ בַּמִּלְחָמָה | 44 | you will also turn the edge of his sword and not let him arise in the battle |
הִשְׁבַּתָּ מִטְּהָרוֹ
וְכִסְאוֹ לָאָרֶץ מִגַּרְתָּה | 45 | You have marred his lustre and his throne to earth you have hurled |
הִקְצַרְתָּ יְמֵי עֲלוּמָיו
הֶעֱטִיתָ עָלָיו בּוּשָׁה סֶלָה | 46 | You have shortened the days of his youthful vigour You have wrapped him in shame Selah |
עַד מָה יְהוָה תִּסָּתֵר
לָנֶצַח תִּבְעַר כְּמוֹ אֵשׁ חֲמָתֶךָ | 47 | How long, יְהוָה, will you hide? in perpetuity? will you kindle like fire your heat? |
זְכָר אֲנִי מֶה חָלֶד
עַל מַה שָּׁוְא בָּרָאתָ כָל בְּנֵי אָדָם | 48 | Remember how transient I am to what vanity you created all the children of humanity |
מִי גֶבֶר יִחְיֶה
וְלֹא יִרְאֶה מָּוֶת יְמַלֵּט נַפְשׁוֹ מִיַּד שְׁאוֹל סֶלָה | 49 | How will valour live and not see death? will he escape from the hand of the grave? Selah |
אַיֵּה חֲסָדֶיךָ הָרִאשֹׁנִים אֲדֹנָי
נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לְדָוִד בֶּאֱמוּנָתֶךָ | 50 | Where are your former loving-kindnesses, my Lord the ones that you swore to David in your faithfulness |
זְכֹר אֲדֹנָי
חֶרְפַּת עֲבָדֶיךָ שְׂאֵתִי בְחֵיקִי כָּל רַבִּים עַמִּים | 51 | Remember, my Lord the reproach of your servants that I bear in my embrace all of a multitude of peoples |
אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּ אוֹיְבֶיךָ יְהוָה
אֲשֶׁר חֵרְפוּ עִקְּבוֹת מְשִׁיחֶךָ | 52 | that your enemies יְהוָה have reproached that they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed |
בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן
| 53 | Bless יְהוָה forever amen and amen |
Hebrew words: 384. Percentage of Hebrew words that recur in this psalm: 67%. Average keywords per verse: 4.9.
Selected recurring words
| Word and gloss * first usage | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Vs | Root |
חסדי of the loving-kindness of
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| 2 | חסד | ||||||
עולם forever
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| 2 | עלם | ||||||
עולם ever
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| 3 | עלם | ||||||
חסד loving-kindness
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| 3 | חסד | ||||||
עולם evermore
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| 5 | עלם | ||||||
זרעך your seed
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| 5 | זרע | ||||||
כל all
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| 8 | כל | ||||||
אתה yourself
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| 10 | אתה | ||||||
אתה yourself
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| 10 | אתה | ||||||
אתה yourself
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| 11 | אתה | ||||||
בזרוע with the arm of
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| 11 | זרע | ||||||
אתה yourself
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| 12 | אתה | ||||||
אתה yourself
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| 13 | אתה | ||||||
זרוע is an arm
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| 14 | זרע | ||||||
עם with
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| 14 | עם | ||||||
תרום exalted
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| 14 | רום | ||||||
חסד loving-kindness
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| 15 | חסד | ||||||
העם the people
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| 16 | עם | ||||||
כל all
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| 17 | כל | ||||||
ירומו they will be exalted
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| 17 | רום | ||||||
אתה you yourself
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| 18 | אתה | ||||||
תרום will be exalted
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| 18 | רום | ||||||
הרימותי I have exalted
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| 20 | רום | ||||||
מעם from the people
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| 20 | עם | ||||||
עמו with him
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| 22 | עם | ||||||
זרועי my arm
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| 22 | זרע | ||||||
וחסדי and my loving-kindness
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| 25 | חסד | ||||||
עמו are with him
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| 25 | עם | ||||||
תרום will be exalted
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| 25 | רום | ||||||
אתה you are
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| 27 | אתה | ||||||
לעולם forever
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| 29 | עלם | ||||||
חסדי my loving-kindness
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| 29 | חסד | ||||||
זרעו his seed
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| 30 | זרע | ||||||
וחסדי but my loving-kindness
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| 34 | חסד | ||||||
מעמו in him
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| 34 | עם | ||||||
זרעו his seed
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| 37 | זרע | ||||||
לעולם forever
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| 37 | עלם | ||||||
עולם forever
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| 38 | עלם | ||||||
ואתה but ... yourself
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| 39 | אתה | ||||||
עם with
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| 39 | עם | ||||||
כל all
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| 41 | כל | ||||||
כל all
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| 42 | כל | ||||||
הרימות you have exalted
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| 43 | רום | ||||||
כל all
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| 43 | כל | ||||||
עלומיו his youthful vigour
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| 46 | עלם | ||||||
כל all
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| 48 | כל | ||||||
חסדיך are your loving-kindnesses
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| 50 | חסד | ||||||
כל all of
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| 51 | כל | ||||||
עמים peoples
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| 51 | עם | ||||||
לעולם forever
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| 53 | עלם |
