Haggai chapter 1

Haggai is a new prophet for me. I am sure I read him in English a few times in my zealous youth, but I little remember. Now here is chapter 1 in my reading from the Hebrew late in my life. Perhaps the 12 will make a little more sense to me as a unit when I am done them all.

This reads and looks like prose though there are some significant repetitions in it. In this chapter, one of their roles is to ensure we know who is being talked about and what they did. 25 words recur more than twice and in sequence. Many of these are personal names. How personal are we in our relationship to the word that is in us? Can it be said that we heard, considered (vv 5,7), feared, were roused, and then constructed what was required. (Construct is the gloss I have used to underline the role of that verb עשה to do, make, used in Genesis when it speaks of God constructing the temple of the Earth for the one made in his image.)

There is a frame for the chapter - this table is for words recurring twice only in the chapter in verses 1 and 15. One could also include in this the first two words, בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם, in the second year.

לדּריושׁ of Darius	░					1	דּריושׁ
המּלךּ the king		░				1	מּלךּ
השׁשׁי the sixth			░			1	שׁשׁ
בּיוםּ on the day				░		1	יוםּ
בּןּ child of					░	1	בּןּ
בּןּ child of					░	1	בּןּ
בּיוםּ on the day				░		15	יוםּ
בּשׁשׁי sixth			░			15	שׁשׁ
לדּריושׁ of Darius	░					15	דּריושׁ
המּלךּ the king		░				15	מּלךּ

The music defines the intent further. It is not common for the first note to be an f (424 verses altogether). On these words 'Thus says ...' only 10 of these verses in my data so far: 3 in Haggai, 4 in Zechariah, 2 in Jeremiah and 1 in Ezekiel. And perhaps another 10 or 11 we haven't yet reached.

Haggai 1		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
בִּשְׁנַ֤ת שְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ לְדָרְיָ֣וֶשׁ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֜ה בְּיַד־חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֗יא אֶל־זְרֻבָּבֶ֤ל בֶּן־שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל֙ פַּחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֧עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָ֛ק הַכֹּהֵ֥ן הַגָּד֖וֹל לֵאמֹֽר	1		In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth new moon on the first day of the month, it happened that Yahweh spoke by the hand of Haggai, the prophet, to Zerubbabel child of Shealtiel, viceroy of Judah, and to Joshua, child of Yehotsedek, the great priest, saying,	3c	4C	24 47
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ אָֽמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א עֶת־בֹּ֛א עֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוָ֖ה לְהִבָּנֽוֹת פ	2	f	Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, saying, This people says, Time has not come, the time to build the house of Yahweh.	3d	4C	10 18
וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה בְּיַד־חַגַּ֥י הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹֽר	3		And it happened that Yahweh spoke by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying,	3e	3g	15
הַעֵ֤ת לָכֶם֙ אַתֶּ֔ם לָשֶׁ֖בֶת בְּבָתֵּיכֶ֣ם סְפוּנִ֑ים וְהַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּ֖ה חָרֵֽב	4		Is it time for you yourselves to sit in your paneled houses, while this house is deserted?	3e	4C	16 8
וְעַתָּ֕ה כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם	5		So now, thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Define for your hearts concerning your ways.	3e	4B	11 9
זְרַעְתֶּ֨ם הַרְבֵּ֜ה וְהָבֵ֣א מְעָ֗ט אָכ֤וֹל וְאֵין־לְשָׂבְעָה֙ שָׁת֣וֹ וְאֵין־לְשָׁכְרָ֔ה לָב֖וֹשׁ וְאֵין־לְחֹ֣ם ל֑וֹ וְהַ֨מִּשְׂתַּכֵּ֔ר מִשְׂתַּכֵּ֖ר אֶל־צְר֥וֹר נָקֽוּב פ	6		You sow excess and little has come of it. You eat and there is no satisfaction. You imbibe and there is no intoxication, clothing and there is no warmth to it, and the one who earns a wage, earns a wage for a bag full of holes.	3e	4C	31 14
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת שִׂ֥ימוּ לְבַבְכֶ֖ם עַל־דַּרְכֵיכֶֽם	7	f	Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, Define for your hearts concerning your ways.	3e	4B	8 9
עֲל֥וּ הָהָ֛ר וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם עֵ֖ץ וּבְנ֣וּ הַבָּ֑יִת וְאֶרְצֶה־בּ֥וֹ וְאֶכָּבְדָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה	8	f	Ascend the hill and come with a tree and build the house, and I will find favour in it and I will be glorified, says Yahweh.	3d	4B	14 12
פָּנֹ֤ה אֶל־הַרְבֵּה֙ וְהִנֵּ֣ה לִמְעָ֔ט וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם הַבַּ֖יִת וְנָפַ֣חְתִּי ב֑וֹ יַ֣עַן מֶ֗ה נְאֻם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת יַ֗עַן בֵּיתִי֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא חָרֵ֔ב וְאַתֶּ֥ם רָצִ֖ים אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ	9		Face to face with excess, but behold little is come to the house that I might stoke it. Because of what? An oracle of Yahweh of hosts: Because of my house that itself is deserted, and each of you is racing to his own house.	3e	4C	22 28
עַל־כֵּ֣ן עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם כָּלְא֥וּ שָמַ֖יִם‬ מִטָּ֑ל וְהָאָ֖רֶץ כָּלְאָ֥ה יְבוּלָֽהּ	10		Therefore to you the heavens are restrained from dew, and the earth restrains her produce.	3e	4B	12 9
וָאֶקְרָ֨א חֹ֜רֶב עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ וְעַל־הֶהָרִ֗ים וְעַל־הַדָּגָן֙ וְעַל־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָ֔ר וְעַ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹצִ֖יא הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְעַל־הָֽאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְעַ֖ל כָּל־יְגִ֥יעַ כַּפָּֽיִם ס	11		I called a desert over the earth and over the hills, and over the grain, and over the new wine, and over the clarified oil, and over that which emerges from the ground, and over the human, and over the beast, and over all the labour of their palms.	3d	4B	39 20
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע זְרֻבָּבֶ֣ל ׀ בֶּֽן־שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֡ל וִיהוֹשֻׁ֣עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק֩ הַכֹּהֵ֨ן הַגָּד֜וֹל וְכֹ֣ל ׀ שְׁאֵרִ֣ית הָעָ֗ם בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיהֶ֔ם וְעַל־דִּבְרֵי֙ חַגַּ֣י הַנָּבִ֔יא כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שְׁלָח֖וֹ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּֽירְא֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מִפְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה	12		And Zerubbabel, child of Shealtiel, and Joshua, child of Yehotsedek, the great priest, and all the residue of the people heard the voice of Yahweh their God, and over the words of Haggai the prophet as Yahweh their God sent him, and the people feared from the presence of Yahweh.	3e	4B	62 9
וַ֠יֹּאמֶר חַגַּ֞י מַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהוָ֛ה בְּמַלְאֲכ֥וּת יְהוָ֖ה לָעָ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אֲנִ֥י אִתְּכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה	13	~	And Haggai, the messenger of Yahweh among the messengers of Yahweh said to the people, saying, I will be with you. An oracle of Yahweh.	3c	4B	19 8
וַיָּ֣עַר יְהוָ֡ה אֶת־רוּחַ֩ זְרֻבָּבֶ֨ל בֶּן־שַׁלְתִּיאֵ֜ל פַּחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֗ה וְאֶת־ר֙וּחַ֙ יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ בֶּן־יְהוֹצָדָק֙ הַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וְֽאֶת־ר֔וּחַ כֹּ֖ל שְׁאֵרִ֣ית הָעָ֑ם וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ מְלָאכָ֔ה בְּבֵית־יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם פ	14		And Yahweh roused the spirit of Zerubbabel, child of Shealtiel, viceroy of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, child of Yehotsedek, the great priest, and the spirit of all the residue of the people. And they came and they constructed the affair in the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God.	3e	4C	50 22
בְּי֨וֹם עֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֛ה לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בַּשִּׁשִּׁ֑י בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁתַּ֖יִם לְדָרְיָ֥וֶשׁ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ	15	~	On the twenty fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.	3c	4A	14 11

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The single letter following a verse

What is the significance of the Single letter, S or P standing alone following a verse in the Hebrew Bible?

Here are some examples I have come across so far. In some books the letter might be seen as marking sections, but this is clearly not the case. In Leviticus, the first chapter has S-P- then S on verses 9, 13, and 17. They mark a repeated word pair. In Deuteronomy the markings are on verses 14, 68 and 69. In neither case could these be defining sections for reading. In Lamentations chapters 1, 3, and 4, there's a letter on every verse (or every third verse for chapter 3), but none in chapters 1 or 5. The S reminds me of Selah. The P, I don't know. The verses are significant - maybe just stop, pause and ponder.

The P occurs 452 times in my data to date. The S occurs 165 times. That's in a little over 6000 verses.

Genesis 2
וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל־מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת פ	3	And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. For on it he ceased from all his affairs that God created for construction. P
Leviticus 1
וְקִרְבּ֥וֹ וּכְרָעָ֖יו יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְהִקְטִ֨יר הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַכֹּל֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֛ה אִשֵּׁ֥ה רֵֽיחַ־נִיח֖וֹחַ לַֽיהוָֽה ס	9	But its entrails and its limbs he will wash in water. And the priest will cause it all to burn with smoke toward the altar, a burnt offering by fire, an appeasing smell for Yahweh. S
וְהַקֶּ֥רֶב וְהַכְּרָעַ֖יִם יִרְחַ֣ץ בַּמָּ֑יִם וְהִקְרִ֨יב הַכֹּהֵ֤ן אֶת־הַכֹּל֙ וְהִקְטִ֣יר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עֹלָ֣ה ה֗וּא אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה פ	13	But its entrails and its limbs he will wash in water. And the priest will bring it all near and will cause it to burn with smoke toward the altar. It is a burnt offering by fire, an appeasing smell for Yahweh. P
וְשִׁסַּ֨ע אֹת֣וֹ בִכְנָפָיו֮ לֹ֣א יַבְדִּיל֒ וְהִקְטִ֨יר אֹת֤וֹ הַכֹּהֵן֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חָה עַל־הָעֵצִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־הָאֵ֑שׁ עֹלָ֣ה ה֗וּא אִשֵּׁ֛ה רֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַיהוָֽה ס	17	And he will spread it out by its wings. He will not differentiate. And the priest will cause it to burn with smoke toward the altar on the trees that are on the fire. It is a burnt offering made by fire, an appeasing smell for Yahweh. S
Deuteronomy 28
וְלֹ֣א תָס֗וּר מִכָּל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י מְצַוֶּ֥ה אֶתְכֶ֛ם הַיּ֖וֹם יָמִ֣ין וּשְׂמֹ֑אול לָלֶ֗כֶת אַחֲרֵ֛י אֱלֹהִ֥ים אֲחֵרִ֖ים לְעָבְדָֽם ס	14	And you will not turn aside from all the things that I myself have commanded you today to the right hand or to the left to walk after other gods to serve them. S
וֶֽהֱשִֽׁיבְךָ֨‬ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ מִצְרַיִם֮ בָּאֳנִיּוֹת֒ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֣רְתִּֽי לְךָ֔ לֹא־תֹסִ֥יף ע֖וֹד לִרְאֹתָ֑הּ וְהִתְמַכַּרְתֶּ֨ם שָׁ֧ם לְאֹיְבֶ֛יךָ לַעֲבָדִ֥ים וְלִשְׁפָח֖וֹת וְאֵ֥ין קֹנֶֽה ס	68	And Yahweh will have you return to Egypt by ship in the way that I said to you, You will no longer again see it. And you will be on sale there to your enemies as servants and as handmaidens and there is no one to purchase. S
אֵלֶּה֩ דִבְרֵ֨י הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־צִוָּ֧ה יְהוָ֣ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֗ה לִכְרֹ֛ת אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֑ב מִלְּבַ֣ד הַבְּרִ֔ית אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֥ת אִתָּ֖ם בְּחֹרֵֽב פ	69	These are the words of the covenant which Yahweh commanded Moses to cut with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he cut with them in Horeb. P
1 Samuel 17
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד לֹ֤א תוּכַל֙ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אֶל־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֣י הַזֶּ֔ה לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם עִמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־נַ֣עַר אַ֔תָּה וְה֛וּא אִ֥ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֖ה מִנְּעֻרָֽיו ס	33	And Saul said to David, You cannot go to this Philistine to fight with him for a youth are you and he a man of war from his youth. S
גַּ֧ם אֶֽת־הָאֲרִ֛י גַּם־הַדּ֖וֹב הִכָּ֣ה עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְֽ֠הָיָה הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֨י הֶעָרֵ֤ל הַזֶּה֙ כְּאַחַ֣ד מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י חֵרֵ֔ף מַעַרְכֹ֖ת אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּֽים ס	36	Even the lion even the bear your servant will strike, so this fore-skinned Philistine will be as one with them for he has reproached the ranks of the living God. S
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖י אֶל־דָּוִ֑ד לְכָ֣ה אֵלַ֔י וְאֶתְּנָה֙ אֶת־בְּשָׂ֣רְךָ֔ לְע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת הַשָּׂדֶֽה ס	44	And the Philistine said to David, Come on to me and I will give your flesh to the fowl of the heavens and the beasts of the field. S
Jonah 2
וַאֲנִ֗י בְּק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָדַ֖רְתִּי אֲשַׁלֵּ֑מָה יְשׁוּעָ֖תָה לַיהוָֽה ס	10	So I in a voice of thanksgiving will offer you what I have vowed to repay. Salvation to Yahweh belongs. S
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה לַדָּ֑ג וַיָּקֵ֥א אֶת־יוֹנָ֖ה אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה פ	11	And Yahweh talked to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto the dry land. P
Jonah 4
וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֶּ֑נִּי כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖י מֵחַיָּֽי ס	3	And now Yahweh take please my being from me, for death is good compared with my life. S
Zephaniah 1
וּפָקַדְתִּ֗י עַ֧ל כָּל־הַדּוֹלֵ֛ג עַל־הַמִּפְתָּ֖ן בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא הַֽמְמַלְאִ֛ים בֵּ֥ית אֲדֹנֵיהֶ֖ם חָמָ֥ס וּמִרְמָֽה ס	9	and I will visit all who leap over the adder on that day, those filling their master's house with violence and deceit. S
גַּם־כַּסְפָּ֨ם גַּם־זְהָבָ֜ם לֹֽא־יוּכַ֣ל לְהַצִּילָ֗ם בְּיוֹם֙ עֶבְרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה וּבְאֵשׁ֙ קִנְאָת֔וֹ תֵּאָכֵ֖ל כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־כָלָ֤ה אַךְ־נִבְהָלָה֙ יַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה אֵ֥ת כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ ס	18	Even their silver, even their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of Yahweh's fury, but in the fire of his jealousy all the land will be devoured. For surely, a consuming vexation he will make for all those inhabiting the land. S
Zephaniah 2
כִּ֤י עַזָּה֙ עֲזוּבָ֣ה תִֽהְיֶ֔ה וְאַשְׁקְל֖וֹן לִשְׁמָמָ֑ה אַשְׁדּ֗וֹד בַּֽצָּהֳרַ֙יִם֙ יְגָ֣רְשׁ֔וּהָ וְעֶקְר֖וֹן תֵּעָקֵֽר ס	4	For Gaza will be forsaken and Ashkelon, desolate. Ashdod at noon they will expel, and Akron. S
זֹ֠את הָעִ֤יר הָעַלִּיזָה֙ הַיּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת לָבֶ֔טַח הָאֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּלְבָבָ֔הּ אֲנִ֖י וְאַפְסִ֣י ע֑וֹד אֵ֣יךְ ׀ הָיְתָ֣ה לְשַׁמָּ֗ה מַרְבֵּץ֙ לַֽחַיָּ֔ה כֹּ֚ל עוֹבֵ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ יִשְׁרֹ֖ק יָנִ֥יעַ יָדֽוֹ ס	15	This is the exultant city, the confident inhabitant. She says in her heart, I am and my ends continue. How she has become desolated, for the animals to recline. All who pass by her will hiss and waggle their hand. S
Zephaniah 3
שְׁאֵרִ֨ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל לֹֽא־יַעֲשׂ֤וּ עַוְלָה֙ וְלֹא־יְדַבְּר֣וּ כָזָ֔ב וְלֹֽא־יִמָּצֵ֥א בְּפִיהֶ֖ם לְשׁ֣וֹן תַּרְמִ֑ית כִּֽי־הֵ֛מָּה יִרְע֥וּ וְרָבְצ֖וּ וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד ס	13	The residue of Israel will not do injustice and will not speak a lie and in their mouths a deceitful tongue will not be found, for they themselves will pasture and recline and without apprehensiveness. S
Haggai 1
וָאֶקְרָ֨א חֹ֜רֶב עַל־הָאָ֣רֶץ וְעַל־הֶהָרִ֗ים וְעַל־הַדָּגָן֙ וְעַל־הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְעַל־הַיִּצְהָ֔ר וְעַ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹצִ֖יא הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְעַל־הָֽאָדָם֙ וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֔ה וְעַ֖ל כָּל־יְגִ֥יעַ כַּפָּֽיִם ס	11	So I called a desert onto the earth and onto the hills and onto the grain and onto the new wine and onto the fresh oil and onto that which emerges from the ground and onto the human and onto the beast and onto all the labour of their palms. S
וַיְהִ֡י כִּ֣י הִקִּיפֽוּ֩ יְמֵ֨י הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֜ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח אִיּ֣וֹב וַֽיְקַדְּשֵׁ֗ם וְהִשְׁכִּ֣ים בַּבֹּקֶר֮ וְהֶעֱלָ֣ה עֹלוֹת֮ מִסְפַּ֣ר כֻּלָּם֒ כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר אִיּ֔וֹב אוּלַי֙ חָטְא֣וּ בָנַ֔י וּבֵרֲכ֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּלְבָבָ֑ם כָּ֛כָה יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אִיּ֖וֹב כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים פ	5	And it would be that after the striking off of party days, Job would send and sanctify them rising early in the morning to offer up burnt offerings for all of them for Job said, Perhaps my sons have sinned and blessed God in their hearts. Thus did Job every one of the days. P
בְּכָל־זֹ֖את לֹא־חָטָ֣א אִיּ֑וֹב וְלֹא־נָתַ֥ן תִּפְלָ֖ה לֵאלֹהִֽים פ	22	In all this Job did not sin nor did he assign fickleness to God. P
Job 2
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֶ֗יהָ כְּדַבֵּ֞ר אַחַ֤ת הַנְּבָלוֹת֙ תְּדַבֵּ֔רִי גַּ֣ם אֶת־הַטּ֗וֹב נְקַבֵּל֙ מֵאֵ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאֶת־הָרָ֖ע לֹ֣א נְקַבֵּ֑ל בְּכָל־זֹ֛את לֹא־חָטָ֥א אִיּ֖וֹב בִּשְׂפָתָֽיו פ	10	But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish women might speak. Indeed, will we undergo the good from God and not undergo the evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips. P
Job 3
לֹ֤א שָׁלַ֨וְתִּי ׀ וְלֹ֖א שָׁקַ֥טְתִּי וְֽלֹא־נָ֗חְתִּי וַיָּ֥בֹא רֹֽגֶז פ	26	I have no ease nor am I quiet nor am I at rest and shuddering has come. P
Job 7
וּמֶ֤ה ׀ לֹא־תִשָּׂ֣א פִשְׁעִי֮ וְתַעֲבִ֪יר אֶת־עֲוֺ֫נִ֥י כִּֽי־עַ֭תָּה לֶעָפָ֣ר אֶשְׁכָּ֑ב וְשִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣נִי וְאֵינֶֽנִּי פ	21	And why do you not assume liability for my transgression and go beyond my iniquity? For now in the dust I will lie down and early you will seek me and there is no me. P
Job 28
מִ֭בְּכִי נְהָר֣וֹת חִבֵּ֑שׁ וְ֝תַעֲלֻמָ֗הּ‬ יֹ֣צִא אֽוֹר פ	11	From weeping he binds rivers, and obscure things he brings to light. P
לֹֽא־יַ֭עַרְכֶנָּה פִּטְדַת־כּ֑וּשׁ בְּכֶ֥תֶם טָ֝ה֗וֹר לֹ֣א תְסֻלֶּֽה פ	19	She is not arranged by the topaz of Cush nor in fine lustrous gold is she suspended. P
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ׀ לָֽאָדָ֗ם הֵ֤ן יִרְאַ֣ת אֲ֭דֹנָי הִ֣יא חָכְמָ֑ה וְס֖וּר מֵרָ֣ע בִּינָֽה ס	28	And he said to the human, Indeed, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is discernment. S
Proverbs 8
לְהַנְחִ֖יל אֹהֲבַ֥י ׀ יֵ֑שׁ וְאֹצְרֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם אֲמַלֵּֽא פ	21	to make those loving me inherit what is, so I fill their treasuries. P
מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵ֣ל אַרְצ֑וֹ וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗י אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם פ	31	gamboling in the world of his earth, reveling with the children of humanity. P
וְֽ֭חֹטְאִי חֹמֵ֣ס נַפְשׁ֑וֹ כָּל־מְ֝שַׂנְאַ֗י אָ֣הֲבוּ מָֽוֶת פ	36	But who sins against me does itself violence. All who hate me love death. P
Song 1
מָשְׁכֵ֖נִי אַחֲרֶ֣יךָ נָּר֑וּצָה הֱבִיאַ֨נִי הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ חֲדָרָ֗יו נָגִ֤ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה֙ בָּ֔ךְ נַזְכִּ֤ירָה דֹדֶ֙יךָ֙ מִיַּ֔יִן מֵישָׁרִ֖ים אֲהֵבֽוּךָ ס	4	Draw me out. After you we will run. The king brought me into his rooms. We will rejoice and we will be glad in you. We will mention your caresses more than wine. The upright have loved you. S
אִם־לֹ֤א תֵדְעִי֙ לָ֔ךְ הַיָּפָ֖ה בַּנָּשִׁ֑ים צְֽאִי־לָ֞ךְ בְּעִקְבֵ֣י הַצֹּ֗אן וּרְעִי֙ אֶת־גְּדִיֹּתַ֔יִךְ עַ֖ל מִשְׁכְּנ֥וֹת הָרֹעִֽים ס	8	If you do not know for yourself, beautiful among women, go out for yourself in the footsteps of the flock and graze your kids by the shepherds' dwellings. S
אֶשְׁכֹּ֨ל הַכֹּ֤פֶר ׀ דּוֹדִי֙ לִ֔י בְּכַרְמֵ֖י עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי ס	14	A cluster of camphire is my beloved to me in the vineyards of Ein Gedi. S
Song 2
יוֹנָתִ֞י בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע בְּסֵ֙תֶר֙ הַמַּדְרֵגָ֔ה הַרְאִ֙ינִי֙ אֶתּ־מַרְאַ֔יִךְ הַשְׁמִיעִ֖ינִי אֶת־קוֹלֵ֑ךְ כִּי־קוֹלֵ֥ךְ עָרֵ֖ב וּמַרְאֵ֥יךְ נָאוֶֽה ס	14	My dove, in the clefts of the cliff, in the secret steep place, let me see your appearance, and let me hear your tone, for your tone is sweet and your appearance is lovely. S
עַ֤ד שֶׁיָּפ֙וּחַ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְנָ֖סוּ הַצְּלָלִ֑ים סֹב֩ דְּמֵה־לְךָ֨ דוֹדִ֜י לִצְבִ֗י א֛וֹ לְעֹ֥פֶר הָאַיָּלִ֖ים עַל־הָ֥רֵי בָֽתֶר ס	17	Till the day dawns and the shadows withdraw, surround, be like, you, my beloved, the gazelle or the faun of the hart upon the rugged mountains. S
Song 3
צְאֶ֧ינָה ׀ וּֽרְאֶ֛ינָה בְּנ֥וֹת צִיּ֖וֹן בַּמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה בָּעֲטָרָ֗ה שֶׁעִטְּרָה־לּ֤וֹ אִמּוֹ֙ בְּי֣וֹם חֲתֻנָּת֔וֹ וּבְי֖וֹם שִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ ס	11	Go forth and see, daughters of Zion, on the king Solomon, the crown that his mother crowned him with on the day he is bridegroom and on the day of the gladness in his heart. S
Ruth 4
וַתִּקְרֶאנָה֩ ל֨וֹ הַשְּׁכֵנ֥וֹת שֵׁם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יֻלַּד־בֵּ֖ן לְנָעֳמִ֑י וַתִּקְרֶ֤אנָֽה שְׁמוֹ֙ עוֹבֵ֔ד ה֥וּא אֲבִי־יִשַׁ֖י אֲבִ֥י דָוִֽד פ	17	And the neighbours called him a name saying, A son is born to Naomi. And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. P
Qohelet 9
כֹּ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֧א יָֽדְךָ֛ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת בְּכֹחֲךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּי֩ אֵ֨ין מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְדַ֣עַת וְחָכְמָ֔ה בִּשְׁא֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ שָֽׁמָּה ס	10	All that you find to your hand to do, in your power do, for there is no deed or reason or knowledge or shrewdness in the grave thereto where you yourself are going. S

Tomography scans 1500 year old scroll of Leviticus

without opening it.

"Bit by bit, a letter at a time, whatever it takes. Until we're done." (Jim Davila reveals his interest.)

more here.

Proverbs 8

Promise in Proverbs 8

This passage has different music in verses 23 and 33. Each of these is without rest. Verse 23 is unique starting on the minor third above the tonic and descending by step to the tonic.
G-From everlasting
F# I have offered libation from the beginning (ornament), out of the precedents of
E earth.
Verse 33 is not much different in shape.
E-G Hear chastening
F# and be wise (ornament), and do not be dis-
E -missive.

These two verses identify the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the earth and the impact. Offer libation brings Psalm 2 to mind where the same word is used of the anointed king. The two verses are connected by the death of Jesus whereby we are able to, i.e. we are given the power to accept chastening. This is so obscure in its formation in human language. It is obscure like Sheol itself, a word that has the sense of the hidden. All trouble of any sort, and all good in the human is sanctified in the libation that is celebrated from before the foundation of the world. Wisdom of course is identified with Jesus - who has become our wisdom (1 Corinthians).

You don't have to believe my words, but do try this odd means of power over impulse and sin. If we have died, we have no power to sin. We cannot do anything. But if we have died in his death, a sort of fictional death by faith, what do you know but that new life arises in us in most surprising ways.

Music is in the usual place. And below is a summary of its highlights: First note (if not e) and min and max notes for a verse.

The book of Proverbs is poetry like the Psalms. The short crisp rhythms are clear from the syllable counts (second to last column). And from the use of the poetic accents defining explicit tricola. The exceptional long lines stand out. If some of my glasses don't make any sense, check another translation and ponder... But am I not also straightforward and understandable? I use wisdom here, a traditional word with heavy religious and social overtones. Wisdom also is shrewdness, a gloss I use primarily in Qohelet. Must be a bias of mine. I don't trust Solomon - if indeed he wrote any of this material, and I doubt he wrote that much of it.

I have as usual never used the lovely word, soul. I am much more concerned about the present state of our world and not at all about some undefined and immaterial 'future'. Time is not what we think. It is not a straight line. It takes everything into one present moment from the eternal libation to the incarnation to our own sensible and fully tangible presence in the faces of joy.

[See also here for more on verses 22-24.]

Proverbs 8		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
הֲלֹֽא־חָכְמָ֥ה תִקְרָ֑א וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ	1		Does not wisdom call, and understanding give her voice?	3e	4A	6 7
בְּרֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִ֥ים עֲלֵי־דָ֑רֶךְ בֵּ֖ית נְתִיב֣וֹת נִצָּֽבָה	2		At the head, from the high ground, by a way, the house of pathways, she stands firm.	3e	4B	8 7
לְיַד־שְׁעָרִ֥ים לְפִי־קָ֑רֶת מְב֖וֹא פְתָחִ֣ים תָּרֹֽנָּה	3		From the hand at the gates, to the edge of the town, she shouts at the entrance of the doors.	3e	4B	8 8
אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם אִישִׁ֣ים אֶקְרָ֑א וְ֝קוֹלִ֗י אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם	4		To each and every one of you I call, and my voice is to the children of humanity.	3e	4B	7 8
הָבִ֣ינוּ פְתָאיִ֣ם עָרְמָ֑ה וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים הָבִ֥ינוּ לֵֽב	5		Let simpletons be made to understand craftiness, and let dullards be made to understand heart.	3e	4B	8 7
שִׁ֭מְעוּ כִּֽי־נְגִידִ֣ים אֲדַבֵּ֑ר וּמִפְתַּ֥ח שְׂ֝פָתַ֗י מֵישָׁרִֽים	6	g	Hear because I will speak evidence, and the opening of my lips, uprightness.	3e	4B	9 9
כִּֽי־אֱ֭מֶת יֶהְגֶּ֣ה חִכִּ֑י וְתוֹעֲבַ֖ת שְׂפָתַ֣י רֶֽשַׁע	7		Because my palate mediates truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.	3e	4B	6 9
בְּצֶ֥דֶק כָּל־אִמְרֵי־פִ֑י אֵ֥ין בָּ֝הֶ֗ם נִפְתָּ֥ל וְעִקֵּֽשׁ	8		All the promises of my mouth are in righteousness. There is no guile or deviousness in them.	3e	4A	7 8
כֻּלָּ֣ם נְ֭כֹחִים לַמֵּבִ֑ין וִֽ֝ישָׁרִ֗ים לְמֹ֣צְאֵי דָֽעַת	9		all of them straightforward, understandable, and upright as a source of knowledge.	3e	4B	8 8
קְחֽוּ־מוּסָרִ֥י וְאַל־כָּ֑סֶף וְ֝דַ֗עַת מֵחָר֥וּץ נִבְחָֽר	10		Receive my mentoring and not silver, so knowledge over bullion, choose.	3e	4A	8 8
כִּֽי־טוֹבָ֣ה חָ֭כְמָה מִפְּנִינִ֑ים וְכָל־חֲ֝פָצִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִֽשְׁווּ־בָֽהּ	11		Because good is wisdom over rubies, and all delights are not to be considered equal in her.	3e	4B	7 9
אֲ‍ֽנִי־חָ֭כְמָה שָׁכַ֣נְתִּי עָרְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת מְזִמּ֣וֹת אֶמְצָֽא	12		I, wisdom, I dwell with craftiness, and I find out knowledge of schemes.	3e	4B	8 8
יִֽרְאַ֣ת יְהוָה֮ שְֽׂנֹ֫את רָ֥ע גֵּ֘אָ֤ה וְגָא֨וֹן ׀ וְדֶ֣רֶךְ רָ֭ע וּפִ֨י תַהְפֻּכ֬וֹת שָׂנֵֽאתִי	13		The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil, pride, and pomp, and the way of evil and the changeable mouth I have hated.	3e	4C	7 17
לִֽי־עֵ֭צָה וְתוּשִׁיָּ֑ה אֲנִ֥י בִ֝ינָ֗ה לִ֣י גְבוּרָֽה	14		Counsel is mine and enterprise. I am understanding. Valour is mine.	3e	4B	6 8
בִּ֭י מְלָכִ֣ים יִמְלֹ֑כוּ וְ֝רוֹזְנִ֗ים יְחֹ֣קְקוּ צֶֽדֶק	15	g	In me sovereigns reign, and rule-makers decree righteousness.	3e	4B	7 8
בִּ֭י שָׂרִ֣ים יָשֹׂ֑רוּ וּ֝נְדִיבִ֗ים כָּל־שֹׁ֥פְטֵי צֶֽדֶק	16	g	In me nobility influence, and princes, all you who judge righteousness.	3e	4B	6 8
אֲ֭נִי אֹהֲבַ֣י אֵהָ֑ב וּ֝מְשַׁחֲרַ֗י יִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי	17	g	I myself love those who love her, and those who seek me early will find me.	3e	4B	7 8
עֹֽשֶׁר־וְכָב֥וֹד אִתִּ֑י ה֥וֹן עָ֝תֵ֗ק וּצְדָקָֽה	18		Riches and glory are with me, durable value and righteousness.	3e	4A	7 6
ט֣וֹב פִּ֭רְיִי מֵחָר֣וּץ וּמִפָּ֑ז וּ֝תְבוּאָתִ֗י מִכֶּ֥סֶף נִבְחָֽר	19	B	My fruit is better than bullion and than pure gold, and my income than choice silver.	3e	4B	9 9
בְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָ֥ה אֲהַלֵּ֑ך‬ בְּ֝ת֗וֹךְ נְתִיב֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט	20		I walk in a path of righteousness, in the midst of pathways of judgment,	3e	4A	9 7
לְהַנְחִ֖יל אֹהֲבַ֥י ׀ יֵ֑שׁ וְאֹצְרֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם אֲמַלֵּֽא פ	21		to make those loving me inherit what is, so I fill their treasuries. P	3e	4B	7 9
יְֽהוָ֗ה קָ֭נָנִי רֵאשִׁ֣ית דַּרְכּ֑וֹ קֶ֖דֶם מִפְעָלָ֣יו מֵאָֽז	22		Yahweh bought me, the beginning of his way, preceding his work from then.	3e	4B	9 7
מֵ֭עוֹלָם נִסַּ֥כְתִּי מֵרֹ֗אשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ	23	g	From everlasting I have offered libation from the beginning, out of the precedents of earth.	3e	3g	12
בְּאֵין־תְּהֹמ֥וֹת חוֹלָ֑לְתִּי בְּאֵ֥ין מַ֝עְיָנ֗וֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־מָֽיִם	24		When there were no abysses, I was birthed, when there were no springs, heavy with water.	3e	4A	8 9
בְּטֶ֣רֶם הָרִ֣ים הָטְבָּ֑עוּ לִפְנֵ֖י גְבָע֣וֹת חוֹלָֽלְתִּי	25		From ere hills were ringed, before the presence of hillocks, I was birthed.	3e	4B	8 8
עַד־לֹ֣א עָ֭שָׂה אֶ֣רֶץ וְחוּצ֑וֹת וְ֝רֹ֗אשׁ עָפְר֥וֹת‬ תֵּבֵֽל	26		While he had not made earth or outsides, or the preeminent fauna of the world.	3e	4B	9 6
בַּהֲכִינ֣וֹ שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑נִי בְּח֥וּקוֹ ח֝֗וּג עַל־פְּנֵ֥י תְהֽוֹם	27		In the establishing of the heavens, there am I, when he engraved the ambit on the face of the abyss.	3e	4B	9 9
בְּאַמְּצ֣וֹ שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל בַּ֝עֲז֗וֹז עִינ֥וֹת תְּהוֹם	28		When he assured the skies from above, in the strength of the springs of the abyss.	3e	4B	9 7
בְּשׂ֘וּמ֤וֹ לַיָּ֨ם ׀ חֻקּ֗וֹ וּ֭מַיִם לֹ֣א יַֽעַבְרוּ־פִ֑יו בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ מ֣וֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ	29		In his defining to the sea his decree, and the waters not to bypass his mandate, when he engraved the foundations of earth,	3e	4C	14 7
וָֽאֶהְיֶ֥ה אֶצְל֗וֹ אָ֫מ֥וֹן וָֽאֶהְיֶ֣ה שַׁ֭עֲשֻׁעִים י֤וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם מְשַׂחֶ֖קֶת לְפָנָ֣יו בְּכָל־עֵֽת	30		And I was next to him as confidante, and I was reveling day by day, gamboling in his presence all the time,	3e	4C	7 9 10
מְ֭שַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵ֣ל אַרְצ֑וֹ וְ֝שַׁעֲשֻׁעַ֗י אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם פ	31	g	gamboling in the world of his earth, reveling with the children of humanity. P	3e	4B	9 11
וְעַתָּ֣ה בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י וְ֝אַשְׁרֵ֗י דְּרָכַ֥י יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ	32		So now, children, hear of what is mine. Happy are those keeping my ways.	3e	4B	8 9
שִׁמְע֖וּ מוּסָ֥ר וַחֲכָ֗מוּ וְאַל־תִּפְרָֽעוּ	33		Hear chastening and be wise, and do not be negligent.	3e	3g	13
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי אָדָם֮ שֹׁמֵ֪עַֽ֫ לִ֥י לִשְׁקֹ֣ד עַל־דַּ֭לְתֹתַי י֤וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם לִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר מְזוּזֹ֥ת פְּתָחָֽי	34	f	Happy a human that has heard of what is mine, to be alert at my gateways day by day, to watch from the posts of my doors.	3d	4C	8 8 8
כִּ֣י מֹ֭צְאִי מָצָ֣א‬ חַיִּ֑ים וַיָּ֥פֶק רָ֝צ֗וֹן מֵיְהוָֽה	35	B	Because who finds me finds life, and will draw forth acceptance from Yahweh.	3e	4B	7 8
וְֽ֭חֹטְאִי חֹמֵ֣ס נַפְשׁ֑וֹ כָּל־מְ֝שַׂנְאַ֗י אָ֣הֲבוּ מָֽוֶת פ	36		But who sins against me does itself violence. All who hate me love death. P	3e	4B	7 10

Project status - a new way of looking at it

I have added a couple of calculated columns to a table I save after every decision when reading in Hebrew and writing in English. It tells me the last chapter and verse that I changed and when and the percentages of what I have read that is in my database and the percentage of the whole that I have in my data. So I won't forget where I am.

As I developed the calculation I noticed that I had not finished what I thought I had. About a dozen verses had been shortchanged. I had the complete text but I had failed to update the interlinear and it showed immediately. Where I was expecting 100.00, 99.xx showed up. But completion is a relative thing, isn't it. In this game, every new decision I make runs the risk of overturning a prior decision and having a ripple effect throughout the work.

My pace of reading will increase. Already it is more than double what it was. But no one should be in a hurry in this exercise. If one rushes, one misses the enjoyment of the new relationships among the words.

This is normally sorted by date in descending order. Some additional fields might be desirable, so I formatted a special query to see the whole in Tanach order. The table shows which verse I last changed and when. Over the last month, I have changed something in every book.

Of the two last columns, the first percentage is by word. This answers the question: How many of the words that I have, have I read and glossed in English. The second percentage is by chapter. This answers the question: How may of the chapters of the whole Bible have I in the data base.

If I keep going, I will finish. Nine books are completed out of 39. The 24 books of the Hebrew Bible are 39 books to the English. There are 2 of Samuel, 2 of Kings, 2 of Chronicles, 2 for Ezra-Nehemiah, and 12 for the minor prophets (for the English). That's a difference of 15 in the two ways of reckoning the contents of the 'Old' Testament.

Three of these are partially in the data, Job, Habakkuk and Malachi. Maybe I should go with those shorter prophetic books to see what I learn next. And the rest are barely begun, but at least one word of one chapter of each. Therefore at least one verse of one chapter of each.

Book	Ch/Vs	Changed	% words in db	% all chapters
Genesis	24:38	2015.06.22	10.46	6.00
Exodus	25:18	2015.07.14	1.41	7.50
Leviticus	1:14	2015.07.08	21.93	7.41
Numbers	6:7	2015.07.14	4.24	2.78
Deuteronomy	1:1	2015.07.14	31.19	2.94
Joshua	1:4	2015.07.14	.10	4.17
Judges	1:1	2015.07.15	.16	4.76
1 Samuel	17:34	2015.06.17	46.86	9.68
2 Samuel	1:1	2015.07.15	.06	4.17
1 Kings	1:1	2015.07.15	.05	4.55
2 Kings	1:1	2015.07.15	.11	4.00
Isaiah	66:12	2015.07.06	14.48	6.06
Jeremiah	1:1	2015.07.15	.06	1.92
Ezekiel	1:1	2015.07.15	.08	2.08
Joel	1:1	2015.07.15	1.25	25.00
Obadiah	1:1	2015.07.10	100.00	100.00
Jonah	3:10	2015.06.23	100.00	100.00
Micah	1:1	2015.07.15	.82	14.29
Habakkuk	3:19	2015.06.28	1.04	33.33
Zephaniah	3:12	2015.06.17	100.00	100.00
Haggai	1:1	2015.07.15	1.54	50.00
Zechariah	14:5	2015.07.15	.18	7.14
Malachi	1:1	2015.06.19	11.48	33.33
Job	9:9	2015.07.14	26.23	38.10
Psalms	94:1	2015.07.12	100.00	100.00
Proverbs	8:21	2015.07.15	11.33	6.45
Song	6:11	2015.07.13	100.00	100.00
Ruth	3:3	2015.06.17	100.00	100.00
Lamentations	3:40	2015.07.15	100.00	100.00
Qohelet	9:18	2015.07.15	100.00	100.00
Esther	8:9	2015.06.28	.13	20.00
Daniel	1:1	2015.07.15	.21	7.14
Ezra	1:1	2015.07.15	.22	10.00
Nehemiah	1:1	2015.07.15	.92	7.69
1 Chronicles	5:6	2015.07.14	.17	3.45
2 Chronicles	1:1	2015.06.20	1.32	2.78

I am currently working on Proverbs 8. I heard a modern motet recently at evensong and I wondered how they developed the words from this chapter as they claimed...