Amos 6

I keep on going. I have to stop on a dime and go shopping or tend the garden, but my bookmarks are kept and I sit down and am taken captive by the text, even if I have had to leave it for several days. It's a very big, nay gigantic puzzle.

Verse 3, the word segregate is used for the action taken by women in their period.

As I walked to the store I was meditating on verse 10. Lots of possible variation. The rhetoric of the old translations like KJV is lost on me. Eventually I left numerous for bones (same letters) and people for with (same letters). And what's not to remember? I made nothing up concerning pierced (v 1). It is niqab, the pierced or bored female in Genesis 1.  Horns could be rendered intense brightness.

Does Yahweh abhor pride or is it that longing for the pride of Jacob is considered to not make sense? Makes perfect sense to me, whether taken directly or sarcastically.

The shape of verse 14 is remarkable. The grammar delays nation to the bitter end of the half-verse. There is a long conditional from verse 3 to verse 6 with the consequence in verse 7. The music does not particularly highlight this structure. Verses 8 and 14 have some similarity that distinguishes them from the remaining verses. Each of these phrases as a whole is unique in Scripture. That by itself is not very revealing because most musical phrases this long are unique. Of the 23,151 verses in the Bible, only 7,944 occur more than once. So roughly two thirds of the verses have unique music (or sequences of accents if you prefer).
8   e tal,pas,ger,rev,qad,B z-q,C e qad,B e z-q,g# ^A g# f e

14 paz,tal,pas,ger,B rev,d f g# ^A f d f g# f e

Take me to task if you wish.

Amos 6		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
ה֚וֹי הַשַּׁאֲנַנִּ֣ים בְּצִיּ֔וֹן וְהַבֹּטְחִ֖ים בְּהַ֣ר שֹׁמְר֑וֹן נְקֻבֵי֙ רֵאשִׁ֣ית הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וּבָ֥אוּ לָהֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	1	C	Ho! those without a care in Zion and those trusting in the hill of Samaria, pierced as heads of the nations. And to them came the house of Israel?	3e	4C	18 17
עִבְר֤וּ כַֽלְנֵה֙ וּרְא֔וּ וּלְכ֥וּ מִשָּׁ֖ם חֲמַ֣ת רַבָּ֑ה וּרְד֣וּ גַת פְּלִשְׁתּ֗ים הֲטוֹבִים֙ מִן הַמַּמְלָכ֣וֹת הָאֵ֔לֶּה אִם רַ֥ב גְּבוּלָ֖ם מִגְּבֻלְכֶֽם	2		Pass through Kalneh and see, and go from there to vast Hamath, then descend to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than the kingdoms? Are these, though vast their borders, more than your borders?	3e	4C	14 25
הַֽמְנַדִּ֖ים לְי֣וֹם רָ֑ע וַתַּגִּישׁ֖וּן שֶׁ֥בֶת חָמָֽס	3		You who segregate the evil day, and bring close the seat of violence,	3e	4B	6 8
הַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ עַל מִטּ֣וֹת שֵׁ֔ן וּסְרֻחִ֖ים עַל עַרְשׂוֹתָ֑ם וְאֹכְלִ֤ים כָּרִים֙ מִצֹּ֔אן וַעֲגָלִ֖ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ מַרְבֵּֽק	4		You who lie down on ivory couches and sprawl on their beds, and eat of the meadows from the flock and the calves from the midst of a stall,	3e	4C	14 15
הַפֹּרְטִ֖ים עַל פִּ֣י הַנָּ֑בֶל כְּדָוִ֕יד חָשְׁב֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם כְּלֵי שִֽׁיר	5		And intone to the melody of the lute like David, and devise for themselves instruments of song,	3e	4B	8 10
הַשֹּׁתִ֤ים בְּמִזְרְקֵי֙ יַ֔יִן וְרֵאשִׁ֥ית שְׁמָנִ֖ים יִמְשָׁ֑חוּ וְלֹ֥א נֶחְל֖וּ עַל שֵׁ֥בֶר יוֹסֵֽף	6		Who imbibe wine in bowls and with first-quality oils anoint themselves, and not they are aghast over the shattering of Joseph,	3e	4C	17 9
לָכֵ֛ן עַתָּ֥ה יִגְל֖וּ בְּרֹ֣אשׁ גֹּלִ֑ים וְסָ֖ר מִרְזַ֥ח סְרוּחִֽים	7		Therefore now they will go into exile at the head of the exiles, and put aside is carousing and their sprawling.	3d	4B	10 7
נִשְׁבַּע֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהוִ֜ה בְּנַפְשׁ֗וֹ נְאֻם יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י צְבָא֔וֹת מְתָאֵ֤ב אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶת גְּא֣וֹן יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וְאַרְמְנֹתָ֖יו שָׂנֵ֑אתִי וְהִסְגַּרְתִּ֖י עִ֥יר וּמְלֹאָֽהּ	8		My lord Yahweh has sworn by his integrity, an oracle of Yahweh God of hosts: I am longing for the pride of Jacob and his citadels I hate, and I will imprison city and its fullness.	3e	4C	40 8
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם יִוָּ֨תְר֜וּ עֲשָׂרָ֧ה אֲנָשִׁ֛ים בְּבַ֥יִת אֶחָ֖ד וָמֵֽתוּ	9		And it will be that if ten adults remain in one house then they will die.	3c	3g	21
וּנְשָׂא֞וֹ דּוֹד֣וֹ וּמְסָרְפ֗וֹ לְהוֹצִ֣יא עֲצָמִים֮ מִן הַבַּיִת֒ וְאָמַ֞ר לַאֲשֶׁ֨ר בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת הַע֥וֹד עִמָּ֖ךְ וְאָמַ֣ר אָ֑פֶס וְאָמַ֣ר הָ֔ס כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לְהַזְכִּ֖יר בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָֽה	10		And his uncle will bear him, and from his incineration to bring forth numerous things from the house. And one says to whomever is by the flanks of the house, Are there yet your people? And he says, No. And he says, Be hushed, for it is not to be remembered in the name of Yahweh.	3d	4B	40 13
כִּֽי הִנֵּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ מְצַוֶּ֔ה וְהִכָּ֛ה הַבַּ֥יִת הַגָּד֖וֹל רְסִיסִ֑ים וְהַבַּ֥יִת הַקָּטֹ֖ן בְּקִעִֽים	11		For behold, Yahweh is commanding and will strike the great house to shards, and the lesser house will split in two.	3d	4C	20 10
הַיְרֻצ֤וּן בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙ סוּסִ֔ים אִֽם יַחֲר֖וֹשׁ בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים כִּֽי הֲפַכְתֶּ֤ם לְרֹאשׁ֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּפְרִ֥י צְדָקָ֖ה לְלַעֲנָֽה	12		Do horses race on the cliff? If one ploughs with oxen. For you have changed to gall, judgment, and the fruit of righteousness to wormwood.	3e	4C	15 17
הַשְּׂמֵחִ֖ים לְלֹ֣א דָבָ֑ר הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔ים הֲל֣וֹא בְחָזְקֵ֔נוּ לָקַ֥חְנוּ לָ֖נוּ קַרְנָֽיִם	13		You who are glad for nothing, you who say, In our courage have we not taken horns for ourselves.	3e	4B	7 17
כִּ֡י הִנְנִי֩ מֵקִ֨ים עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נְאֻם יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הַצְּבָא֖וֹת גּ֑וֹי וְלָחֲצ֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִלְּב֥וֹא חֲמָ֖ת עַד נַ֥חַל הָעֲרָבָֽה	14	~	For note me well raising up against you, the house of Israel, an oracle of Yahweh the God of hosts, a nation. And they will grip you from the entrance of Hamath to the wadi of the steppe.	3d	4B	24 17

Frames within Proverbs?

I haven't read Proverbs as a book. It seems too much at once. So maybe I should do one or two a day and see what emerges. I wonder if I am looking at frames in the few I have done so far? 14:12 and 16:25 are identical and similar to 21:2. 17:3 matches 27:21.

9
תְּחִלַּ֣ת חָ֭כְמָה יִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים בִּינָֽה	10	The commencement of wisdom, the fear of Yahweh. And knowledge of holy things, discernment.	9 8
10
בִּרְכַּ֣ת יְ֭הוָה הִ֣יא תַעֲשִׁ֑יר וְלֹֽא־יוֹסִ֖ף עֶ֣צֶב עִמָּֽהּ	22	The blessing of Yahweh, it enriches, and he adds no hardship with it.	8 7
14
יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת	12	There is a way that is upright facing a person, and following it are the ways of death.	8 8
16
יֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת	25	There is a way that is upright facing a person, and following it are the ways of death.	8 8
17
ט֤וֹב פַּ֣ת חֲ֭רֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָ֑הּ מִ֝בַּ֗יִת מָלֵ֥א זִבְחֵי־רִֽיב	1	Better, a desert fragment and ease with it, than a house full of disputed offerings.	9 8
עֶֽבֶד־מַשְׂכִּ֗יל יִ֭מְשֹׁל בְּבֵ֣ן מֵבִ֑ישׁ וּבְת֥וֹךְ אַ֝חִ֗ים יַחֲלֹ֥ק נַחֲלָֽה	2	An insightful servant will govern a child that causes shame, and among kin will divide an inheritance.	10 10
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה	3	Crucible for silver and forge for gold, so testing for hearts is Yahweh.	10 7
אֶֽבֶן־חֵ֣ן הַ֭שֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵ֣י בְעָלָ֑יו אֶֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִפְנֶ֣ה יַשְׂכִּֽיל	8	A graced stone is a bribe in the eyes of its owner. To all that faces it gives insight.	12 8
19
שֹׁמֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה שֹׁמֵ֣ר נַפְשׁ֑וֹ בּוֹזֵ֖ה דְרָכָ֣יו יָמֽוּת	16	One who keeps a command keeps its very self. One who despises his ways will die.	8 7
21
כָּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהוָֽה	2	Every way of anyone is upright in its eyes, but Yahweh balances hearts.	9 7
27
מַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ לְפִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽוֹ	21	Crucible for silver and forge for gold, so each is here for its praise.	10 8

Job 20

Enjoying this so much! Zophar's next speech has been unfairly treated. 'Rain on his picnic'. Is that in the Bible or in Shakespeare? (Hint: this whole speech is by Bottom).

Don't forget the omission of 'God' in the traditional hell fire and brimstone passages (v 23, compare with the last verses of Psalm 7).

All the complex modifications suggested to me by Tur Sinai's book years ago. Not one seems needed. Scholars can be obtuse.

Job 20		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַ֭יַּעַן צֹפַ֥ר הַנַּֽעֲמָתִ֗י וַיֹּאמַֽר	1	g	Then answered Zophar the Naamathite and said,	3e	3g	13
לָ֭כֵן שְׂעִפַּ֣י יְשִׁיב֑וּנִי וּ֝בַעֲב֗וּר ח֣וּשִׁי בִֽי	2	g	So my tempest of thought makes me turn, and with fury, my hurry within me.	3e	4B	9 7
מוּסַ֣ר כְּלִמָּתִ֣י אֶשְׁמָ֑ע וְ֝ר֗וּחַ מִֽבִּינָתִ֥י יַעֲנֵֽנִי	3		A chastening of my humiliation I hear, and spirit from my discernment makes me answer.	3e	4B	8 11
הֲזֹ֣את יָ֭דַעְתָּ מִנִּי־עַ֑ד מִנִּ֤י שִׂ֖ים אָדָ֣ם עֲלֵי־אָֽרֶץ	4		This have you known from for ever, from the setting of humanity on earth?	3e	4C	8 8
כִּ֤י רִנְנַ֣ת רְ֭שָׁעִים מִקָּר֑וֹב וְשִׂמְחַ֖ת חָנֵ֣ף עֲדֵי־רָֽגַע	5	C	For the shout of joy of the wicked is near-term, and the gladness of a hypocrite but a moment.	3e	4C	9 8
אִם־יַעֲלֶ֣ה לַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שִׂיא֑וֹ וְ֝רֹאשׁ֗וֹ לָעָ֥ב יַגִּֽיעַ	6		If his gloating ascends to the heavens, and its top touch to the thick cloud,	3e	4B	9 8
כְּֽ֭גֶלֲלוֹ לָנֶ֣צַח יֹאבֵ֑ד רֹ֝אָ֗יו יֹאמְר֥וּ אַיּֽוֹ	7		Like his own dung, in perpetuity he perishes. They who saw him say, Where is he?	3e	4B	9 6
כַּחֲל֣וֹם יָ֭עוּף וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָא֑וּהוּ וְ֝יֻדַּ֗ד כְּחֶזְי֥וֹן לָֽיְלָה	8		As a dream he will fly away nor will they find him. And he flees as a night vision.	3e	4B	11 8
עַ֣יִן שְׁ֭זָפַתּוּ וְלֹ֣א תוֹסִ֑יף וְלֹא־ע֝֗וֹד תְּשׁוּרֶ֥נּוּ מְקוֹמֽוֹ	9	B	Eye glanced on him but not again, nor any longer will his place scrutinize him.	3e	4B	9 10
בָּ֭נָיו יְרַצּ֣וּ דַלִּ֑ים וְ֝יָדָ֗יו תָּשֵׁ֥בְנָה אוֹנֽוֹ	10	g	His children seek favour among the weak, so his own hands will restore his virility.	3e	4B	7 8
עַ֭צְמוֹתָיו מָלְא֣וּ עֲלוּמָ֑יו וְ֝עִמּ֗וֹ עַל־עָפָ֥ר תִּשְׁכָּֽב	11	g	His bones are full of his youthful vigour, and with him, to dust they will be laid out.	3e	4B	8 8
אִם־תַּמְתִּ֣יק בְּפִ֣יו רָעָ֑ה יַ֝כְחִידֶ֗נָּה תַּ֣חַת לְשׁוֹנֽוֹ	12		If evil is sweet in his mouth, he conceals it under his tongue.	3e	4B	7 9
יַחְמֹ֣ל עָ֭לֶיהָ וְלֹ֣א יַֽעַזְבֶ֑נָּה וְ֝יִמְנָעֶ֗נָּה בְּת֣וֹךְ חִכּֽוֹ	13		He shows pity on it and does not forsake it, but withholds it in his palate.	3e	4B	11 9
לַ֭חְמוֹ בְּמֵעָ֣יו נֶהְפָּ֑ךְ מְרוֹרַ֖ת פְּתָנִ֣ים בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ	14	g	His bread in his abdomen is overturned, the cursing of adders within him.	3e	4B	7 9
חַ֣יִל בָּ֭לַע וַיְקִאֶ֑נּוּ מִ֝בִּטְנ֗וֹ יוֹרִשֶׁ֥נּוּ אֵֽל	15	B	Wealth he has swallowed up and he will disgorge it. From his belly the One will dispossess it.	3e	4B	8 8
רֹאשׁ־פְּתָנִ֥ים יִינָ֑ק תַּֽ֝הַרְגֵ֗הוּ לְשׁ֣וֹן אֶפְעֶֽה	16		The head of adders he will suckle. The tongue of the asp will slay him.	3e	4B	6 8
אַל־יֵ֥רֶא בִפְלַגּ֑וֹת נַהֲרֵ֥י נַ֝חֲלֵ֗י דְּבַ֣שׁ וְחֶמְאָֽה	17		He will not see streams, rivers, torrents of honey, or clotted cream.	3e	4B	6 11
מֵשִׁ֣יב יָ֭גָע וְלֹ֣א יִבְלָ֑ע כְּחֵ֥יל תְּ֝מוּרָת֗וֹ וְלֹ֣א יַעֲלֹֽס	18		He will restore what he laboured for, and he will not swallow. As his wealth, so its restitution, and he will not take solace.	3e	4B	8 11
כִּֽי־רִ֭צַּץ עָזַ֣ב דַּלִּ֑ים בַּ֥יִת גָּ֝זַ֗ל וְלֹ֣א יִבֶנֵֽהוּ	19		For he has damaged, has forsaken the weak. A house he has robbed and he did not build it.	3e	4B	6 10
כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־יָדַ֣ע שָׁלֵ֣ו בְּבִטְנ֑וֹ בַּ֝חֲמוּד֗וֹ לֹ֣א יְמַלֵּֽט	20	C	For he does not know ease in his belly. In his covetousness he will not escape.	3e	4C	8 8
אֵין־שָׂרִ֥יד לְאָכְל֑וֹ עַל־כֵּ֝֗ן לֹא־יָחִ֥יל טוּבֽוֹ	21		There is no survivor to eat it. So no dancing for his good.	3e	4A	6 6
בִּמְלֹ֣אות שִׂ֭פְקוֹ יֵ֣צֶר ל֑וֹ כָּל־יַ֖ד עָמֵ֣ל תְּבוֹאֶֽנּוּ	22		In the fullness of his sharp practice he is in trouble. Every hand of misery comes upon him.	3e	4B	8 8
יְהִ֤י ׀ לְמַלֵּ֬א בִטְנ֗וֹ יְֽשַׁלַּח־בּ֭וֹ‬ חֲר֣וֹן אַפּ֑וֹ וְיַמְטֵ֥ר עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ בִּלְחוּמֽוֹ	23		He is to fill his belly? He sends against him his fierce anger, and he rains on his picnic.	3e	4C	15 9
יִ֭בְרַח מִנֵּ֣שֶׁק בַּרְזֶ֑ל תַּ֝חְלְפֵ֗הוּ קֶ֣שֶׁת נְחוּשָֽׁה	24	g	He runs from the kiss of iron, but the brazen bow will renew him.	3e	4B	7 9
שָׁלַף֮ וַיֵּצֵ֪א מִגֵּ֫וָ֥ה וּ֭בָרָק מִֽמְּרֹרָת֥וֹ יַהֲלֹ֗ךְ עָלָ֥יו אֵמִֽים	25		It is drawn and comes forth from a body, and glittering from his bitterness walks away. Over him, horrors.	3d	3g	8 14
כָּל־חֹשֶׁךְ֮ טָמ֪וּן לִצְפּ֫וּנָ֥יו תְּ֭אָכְלֵהוּ אֵ֣שׁ לֹֽא־נֻפָּ֑ח יֵ֖רַע שָׂרִ֣יד בְּאָהֳלֽוֹ	26		All darkness is buried in his treasures. A fire not stoked devours him. It is curtains for a survivor in his tent.	3d	4B	8 7 8
יְגַלּ֣וּ שָׁמַ֣יִם עֲוֺנ֑וֹ וְ֝אֶ֗רֶץ מִתְקוֹמָ֘מָ֥ה לֽוֹ	27		The heavens discover his iniquity, and earth arises against him.	3e	4B	8 8
יִ֭גֶל יְב֣וּל בֵּית֑וֹ נִ֝גָּר֗וֹת בְּי֣וֹם אַפּֽוֹ	28	g	Uncovered is the produce of his house, wrung out on the day of his anger.	3e	4B	6 7
זֶ֤ה ׀ חֵֽלֶק־אָדָ֣ם רָ֭שָׁע מֵאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְנַחֲלַ֖ת אִמְר֣וֹ מֵאֵֽל פ	29	C	This is the share of the wicked earthling from God, and the inheritance promised him from the One.	3e	4C	11 9

Job 19

So much today I am back to the beginning of the first attempts I made at Job 6 years ago. And my concordance helpers were really useful to me today, suggesting a reading that concurs with many. What do you think?

Job 19		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר	1		And Job answered and said,	3e	3f	8
עַד־אָ֭נָה תּוֹגְי֣וּן נַפְשִׁ֑י וּֽתְדַכְּאוּנַ֥נִי בְמִלִּֽים	2		How long please will you sadden my being, and crush me with speeches?	3e	4B	7 8
זֶ֤ה עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּ֭עָמִים תַּכְלִימ֑וּנִי לֹֽא־תֵ֝בֹ֗שׁוּ תַּהְכְּרוּ־לִֽי	3	C	These ten times you humiliate me. Are you not ashamed to insult me?	3e	4C	10 7
וְאַף־אָמְנָ֥ם שָׁגִ֑יתִי אִ֝תִּ֗י תָּלִ֥ין מְשׁוּגָתִֽי	4		And if indeed truly I have strayed, with me lodges my straying.	3e	4A	7 8
אִם־אָ֭מְנָם עָלַ֣י תַּגְדִּ֑ילוּ וְתוֹכִ֥יחוּ עָ֝לַ֗י חֶרְפָּתִּֽי	5		If truly against me you tower, and referee against me my reproach,	3e	4B	8 9
דְּֽעוּ־אֵ֭פוֹ כִּי־אֱל֣וֹהַּ עִוְּתָ֑נִי וּ֝מְצוּד֗וֹ עָלַ֥י הִקִּֽיף	6		Know here that God subverts me, and from his fortress is striking off against me	3e	4B	9 7
הֵ֤ן אֶצְעַ֣ק חָ֭מָס וְלֹ֣א אֵעָנֶ֑ה אֲ֝שַׁוַּ֗ע וְאֵ֣ין מִשְׁפָּֽט	7	C	Lo! I cry out, Violence! and I am not answered. I cry for help and there is no judgment.	3e	4C	10 7
אָרְחִ֣י גָ֭דַר וְלֹ֣א אֶעֱב֑וֹר וְעַ֥ל נְ֝תִיבוֹתַ֗י חֹ֣שֶׁךְ יָשִֽׂים	8		My path he has fenced and I pass not through, and in my tracks he sets darkness.	3e	4B	9 10
כְּ֭בוֹדִי מֵעָלַ֣י הִפְשִׁ֑יט וַ֝יָּ֗סַר עֲטֶ֣רֶת רֹאשִֽׁי	9	g	My glory from me he has pillaged, and he turns aside the crown my head.	3e	4B	8 8
יִתְּצֵ֣נִי סָ֭בִיב וָאֵלַ֑ךְ וַיַּסַּ֥ע כָּ֝עֵ֗ץ תִּקְוָתִֽי	10		He breaks me off on every side and I am gone, and he pulls out like a tree my expectation.	3e	4B	8 8
וַיַּ֣חַר עָלַ֣י אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי ל֣וֹ כְצָרָֽיו	11		And he burns against me his anger, and reckons me as his foe.	3e	4B	7 9
יַ֤חַד ׀ יָ֘בֹ֤אוּ גְדוּדָ֗יו וַיָּסֹ֣לּוּ עָלַ֣י דַּרְכָּ֑ם וַיַּחֲנ֖וּ סָבִ֣יב לְאָהֳלִֽי	12	C	Together come his collaborators and they extol against me their way, and camp on every side of my tent.	3e	4C	15 10
אַ֭חַי מֵעָלַ֣י הִרְחִ֑יק וְ֝יֹדְעַ֗י אַךְ־זָ֥רוּ מִמֶּֽנִּי	13	g	My kin from me are distant, and my acquaintances surely are estranged from me.	3e	4B	7 9
חָדְל֥וּ קְרוֹבָ֑י וּֽמְיֻדָּעַ֥י שְׁכֵחֽוּנִי	14		Set aside are those near me, and those who are known by me have forgotten me.	3e	4A	5 8
גָּ֘רֵ֤י בֵיתִ֣י וְ֭אַמְהֹתַי לְזָ֣ר תַּחְשְׁבֻ֑נִי נָ֝כְרִ֗י הָיִ֥יתִי בְעֵינֵיהֶֽם	15	~	Guests in my house and my maidservants reckon me as a stranger. Alien I have become in their eyes.	3e	4C	14 9
לְעַבְדִּ֣י קָ֭רָאתִי וְלֹ֣א יַעֲנֶ֑ה בְּמוֹ־פִ֝֗י אֶתְחַנֶּן־לֽוֹ	16		To my servant I call and he does not answer, with my mouth I make supplication to him.	3e	4B	11 7
ר֭וּחִֽי זָ֣רָה לְאִשְׁתִּ֑י וְ֝חַנֹּתִ֗י לִבְנֵ֥י בִטְנִֽי	17	g	My spirit is strange to my wife, and I supplicate the children of my belly.	3e	4B	7 8
גַּם־עֲ֭וִילִים מָ֣אֲסוּ בִ֑י אָ֝ק֗וּמָה וַיְדַבְּרוּ־בִֽי	18		Even babies refuse me. I arise and they speak against me.	3e	4B	8 7
תִּֽ֭עֲבוּנִי כָּל־מְתֵ֣י סוֹדִ֑י וְזֶֽה־אָ֝הַ֗בְתִּי נֶהְפְּכוּ־בִֽי	19		All my intimates abhor me, and this I loved. They have turned against me.	3e	4B	9 9
בְּעוֹרִ֣י וּ֭בִבְשָׂרִי דָּבְקָ֣ה עַצְמִ֑י וָ֝אֶתְמַלְּטָ֗ה בְּע֣וֹר שִׁנָּֽי	20		To my skin and to my flesh my bones cling, and I escape in the skin of my teeth.	3e	4B	11 8
חָנֻּ֬נִי חָנֻּ֣נִי אַתֶּ֣ם רֵעָ֑י כִּ֥י יַד־אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ נָ֣גְעָה בִּֽי	21		Be gracious, be gracious, you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me.	3e	4B	10 8
לָ֭מָּה תִּרְדְּפֻ֣נִי כְמוֹ־אֵ֑ל וּ֝מִבְּשָׂרִ֗י לֹ֣א תִשְׂבָּֽעוּ	22	g	Why do you pursue me as if the One, and with my flesh you are not satisfied?	3e	4B	9 8
מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן אֵ֭פוֹ וְיִכָּתְב֣וּן מִלָּ֑י מִֽי־יִתֵּ֖ן בַּסֵּ֣פֶר וְיֻחָֽקוּ	23		Who will give here, so my speeches may be written? Who will give so that in a book they be decreed?	3e	4B	10 9
בְּעֵט־בַּרְזֶ֥ל וְעֹפָ֑רֶת לָ֝עַ֗ד בַּצּ֥וּר יֵחָצְבֽוּן	24		With an iron stylus and lead, for ever on a rock hewn.	3e	4A	8 7
וַאֲנִ֣י יָ֭דַעְתִּי גֹּ֣אֲלִי חָ֑י וְ֝אַחֲר֗וֹן עַל־עָפָ֥ר יָקֽוּם	25		And I, I know my redeemer is living, and after, over dust he will arise.	3e	4B	9 9
וְאַחַ֣ר ע֭וֹרִֽי נִקְּפוּ־זֹ֑את וּ֝מִבְּשָׂרִ֗י אֶֽחֱזֶ֥ה אֱלֽוֹהַּ	26		And after, this my naked skin encompassed, so from my flesh, on God I will gaze.	3e	4B	8 10
אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִ֨י ׀ אֶֽחֱזֶה־לִּ֗י וְעֵינַ֣י רָא֣וּ וְלֹא־זָ֑ר כָּל֖וּ כִלְיֹתַ֣י בְּחֵקִֽי	27		That I, I will gaze on, for me, and my eyes will see and not a stranger, consumed, my own consummation in my embrace.	3e	4C	16 8
כִּ֣י תֹ֭אמְרוּ‬ מַה־נִּרְדָּף־ל֑וֹ וְשֹׁ֥רֶשׁ דָּ֝בָ֗ר נִמְצָא־בִֽי	28	B	For you should say, Why do we persecute him? For the root of the matter is found in me.	3e	4B	7 8
גּ֤וּרוּ לָכֶ֨ם ׀ מִפְּנֵי־חֶ֗רֶב כִּֽי־חֵ֭מָה עֲוֺנ֣וֹת חָ֑רֶב לְמַ֖עַן תֵּדְע֣וּן שַׁדּֽוּן ס	29	C	Stand in awe for yourselves, in the face of a sword. For conceived are the iniquities of the sword, so you know there is a sentence.	3e	4C	14 8

There are overlapping recurring circles from 6 to 16 and from 13 to the end. (I omitted 23-26). The key words are ידע, פה, לא, ענה, סבב, חשׁב, זור, גור, עין, חנן, ב, דבר, עור, בשׂר, רדף, כלה, חרב. The images are too big to display, but you can trace the recurrence with these hints or without them.
Here's the music for the central section 23-26. I have not noted before the immediate return to the tonic after a rest, but it is not uncommon. Verse 23 is rare also in that the very common second half ornament is not present in it.

Like a priest exposing his own wayward mother

Why would I have avoided Jeremiah for so long? Will I ever get to Ezekiel?

Here's a paper that turned up on my Academia feed on Jeremiah. This prophet looks like he will be an interesting read. I wonder whether my reading will see the sorts of things that turn up in the Talmuds.

Jeremiah 1

I found a bit of Jeremiah 20 that I must have done before the current database. Lost it was. In looking at it and given my unfamiliarity with Jeremiah, I thought I had better start from chapter 1. So here it is.

Now is Jeremiah for or against? The preposition is clearly 'against' (על) the nations, but for Jerusalem and Judah and the people of the land (=earth - no distinction), the preposition is the enclitic ל. I rarely have made that 'against' (7 times so far in several hundred uses). Some verbs in English would imply a preposition stronger than of, for, or to... In this case perhaps the possessive use of the preposition is implied, so the force of the first preposition continues across the mid-point rest in the verse. And is this the whole earth and / or the land? I don't know. But I had to put something down. The sense of one of these words is required, but at this stage of the book, one cannot say which one.

Every king was once a child...

Jeremiah 1		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָת֔וֹת בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן	1		The words of Jeremiah child of Hilqiah, from the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.	3e	4B	11 17
אֲשֶׁ֨ר הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֵלָ֔יו בִּימֵ֛י יֹאשִׁיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־אָמ֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה בִּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה לְמָלְכֽוֹ	2		To whom happened the word of Yahweh in the days of Josiah, Amon's child, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.	3d	4C	24 9
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵ֨י יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים בֶּן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֙הוּ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה עַד־תֹּם֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְצִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ בֶן־יֹאשִׁיָּ֖הוּ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה עַד־גְּל֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִֽׁי	3		It was in the days of Jehoiachim, child of Josiah, king of Judah to the completion of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, child of Josiah, king of Judah, until the exile of Jerusalem, in the fifth new moon.	3e	4C	41 14
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר	4		And the word of Yahweh happened to me, saying,	3e	3g	10
בְּטֶ֨רֶם אֶצָּרְךָ֤ בַבֶּ֙טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ	5		Before I fashioned you in the belly I knew you and before you came forth from the womb, I sanctified you. A prophet for the nations, I made you.	3d	4C	25 9
וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַּבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי	6		And I said, Aye yai yai, my Lord Yahweh, behold I know nothing, for a youth am I.	3e	4B	18 5
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר	7		And Yahweh said to me, Do not say, A youth am I, for to all that I send you, you will go, and all that I command you, you will speak.	3d	4C	15 22
אַל־תִּירָ֖א מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י לְהַצִּלֶ֖ךָ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה	8		Do not fear before their faces, for with you am I to deliver you, an oracle of Yahweh.	3d	4A	6 14
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ וַיַּגַּ֖ע עַל־פִּ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי דְבָרַ֖י בְּפִֽיךָ	9		And Yahweh extended his hand, and he touched my mouth. And Yahweh said to me, Behold, I have given my words in your mouth.	3d	4C	13 18
רְאֵ֞ה הִפְקַדְתִּ֣יךָ ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ וְעַל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וְלַהֲר֑וֹס לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ	10		See I have conscripted you day this concerning the nations and concerning the kingdoms to blot out and to break off and to eliminate and to overthrow, to build and to plant.	3e	4B	33 6
וַיְהִ֤י דְבַר־יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֣י לֵאמֹ֔ר מָה־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ וָאֹמַ֕ר מַקֵּ֥ל שָׁקֵ֖ד אֲנִ֥י רֹאֶֽה	11		And the word of Yahweh happened to me, saying, What are you seeing, Jeremiah? And I said, A stick from a vigilant almond tree. I am seeing.	3e	4C	19 11
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוָ֛ה אֵלַ֖י הֵיטַ֣בְתָּ לִרְא֑וֹת כִּֽי־שֹׁקֵ֥ד אֲנִ֛י עַל־דְּבָרִ֖י לַעֲשֹׂתֽוֹ	12		And Yahweh said to me, You have done well to see, for I will be vigilant over my word to do it.	3c	4B	12 12
וַיְהִ֨י דְבַר־יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֵלַי֙ שֵׁנִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֔ר מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה וָאֹמַ֗ר סִ֤יר נָפ֙וּחַ֙ אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֔ה וּפָנָ֖יו מִפְּנֵ֥י צָפֽוֹנָה	13		And the word of Yahweh happened to me a second time, saying, What you are seeing? And I said, A pot stoked I am seeing, and its face facing towards the north.	3e	4C	17 19
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י מִצָּפוֹן֙ תִּפָּתַ֣ח הָרָעָ֔ה עַ֥ל כָּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָֽרֶץ	14		And Yahweh said to me, From the north the evil will be unsheathed over all those settled in the earth.	3e	4B	7 16
כִּ֣י ׀ הִנְנִ֣י קֹרֵ֗א לְכָֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֛וֹת מַמְלְכ֥וֹת צָפ֖וֹנָה נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וּבָ֡אוּ וְֽנָתְנוּ֩ אִ֨ישׁ כִּסְא֜וֹ פֶּ֣תַח ׀ שַׁעֲרֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם וְעַ֤ל כָּל־חוֹמֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ סָבִ֔יב וְעַ֖ל כָּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה	15	B	For note me well, I am calling to all the families from the kingdoms of the north, an oracle of Yahweh, and they will come and they will assign each their throne at the door of the gates of Jerusalem, and over all her surrounding ramparts and over all the cities of Judah.	3d	4C	20 35
וְדִבַּרְתִּ֤י מִשְׁפָּטַי֙ אוֹתָ֔ם עַ֖ל כָּל־רָעָתָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר עֲזָב֗וּנִי וַֽיְקַטְּרוּ֙ לֵאלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לְמַעֲשֵׂ֥י יְדֵיהֶֽם	16		And I will speak my judgment to them over all their evil, who forsake me and burn incense to other gods and worship the deeds of their hands.	3e	4C	14 27
וְאַתָּה֙ תֶּאְזֹ֣ר מָתְנֶ֔יךָ וְקַמְתָּ֙ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י אֲצַוֶּ֑ךָּ אַל־תֵּחַת֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם פֶּֽן־אֲחִתְּךָ֖ לִפְנֵיהֶֽם	17		But you, you gird up your loins, and arise and speak to them all that I myself command you. Do not be dismayed from their faces lest I dismay you facing them.	3d	4B	29 13
וַאֲנִ֞י הִנֵּ֧ה נְתַתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם לְעִ֨יר מִבְצָ֜ר וּלְעַמּ֥וּד בַּרְזֶ֛ל וּלְחֹמ֥וֹת נְחֹ֖שֶׁת עַל־כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ לְמַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ לְשָׂרֶ֔יהָ לְכֹהֲנֶ֖יהָ וּלְעַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ	18		And I, behold, I have made you today, an enclosed city and a pillar of iron and walls of brass against all the earth, of the kings of Judah, of her chiefs, of her priests, and of the people of the land.	3c	4C	31 20
וְנִלְחֲמ֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ וְלֹא־י֣וּכְלוּ לָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה לְהַצִּילֶֽךָ	19		And they will fight against you and will not overpower you, for I am with you, an oracle of Yahweh, to deliver you.	3d	4B	12 14

Genesis 7, the flood, continued

אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ - is not male and female strictly speaking, but it is used in verse 2 for the description of the clean and unclean beasts. Then in verse 16, the usual phrase for male and female is used, זָכָ֨ר וּנְקֵבָ֤ה. So I chose each and its mate for the beasts, perhaps with some anthropocentric prejudice on my part.

There are large chunks of repetition in this chapter. 36 words recur more than 3 times in the 24 verses. 12 words recur exactly twice. Only verse 22 is without a mid-verse rest. Over half the words in this chapter are shared with Genesis 1 (382 of 651). 

Twice we get this unique combination אֶֽת־כָּל־הַיְק֣וּם all that was placed. Perhaps I should follow others in rendering this phrase, but why start following others now! It is a word related to קום, for which common glosses are related to place or to exaltation, arising, and so on. Only used elsewhere in this form in Deuteronomy 11:6. I think this is a deliberate taking away of what was constructed in Genesis 1:9. Why then the use of desert (v 22) rather than dry land? Whatever the reason, place is a loaded word in both Old and New testament. So maybe it is important here and in the later place where we will have to deal with rebellion of another sort.

One day I will publish my glossary. A glossary is not a dictionary, but a record of decisions. Remember that - A does not mean B. Rather, the translator chose B to represent A for some reason or other. And some reasons / decisions may be more suitable than others. My intention is to preserve the pattern of variation and non-variation of word usage as much as I can. It's a chosen constraint.

There are more peculiarities of the phrasing of this chapter. I could have chosen more traditional glosses, but would that have hidden something from me that I should not 'gloss over'. Like עצם (bones, numerous) in verse 13. Maybe the deluge is a repetitive phenomenon and the barge really is the assembly. I used the phrase span for time since day and night are singular in the Hebrew.

As Herbert wrote in the poem Easter of  'days', There is but one and that one ever.

Genesis 7		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ לְנֹ֔חַ בֹּֽא־אַתָּ֥ה וְכָל־בֵּיתְךָ֖ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֑ה כִּֽי־אֹתְךָ֥ רָאִ֛יתִי צַדִּ֥יק לְפָנַ֖י בַּדּ֥וֹר הַזֶּֽה	1		And Yahweh said to Noah, You come, you and all your house into the barge, for you I have seen righteous in my presence in this generation.	3d	4C	18 15
מִכֹּ֣ל ׀ הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה הַטְּהוֹרָ֗ה תִּֽקַּח־לְךָ֛ שִׁבְעָ֥ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וּמִן־הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹ֣א טְהֹרָ֥ה הִ֛וא שְׁנַ֖יִם אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ	2		From all the clean beasts you take for yourself seven by seven each and its mate, and from the beast that is not clean, it, by two each and its mate.	3d	4B	20 18
גַּ֣ם מֵע֧וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם שִׁבְעָ֥ה שִׁבְעָ֖ה זָכָ֣ר וּנְקֵבָ֑ה לְחַיּ֥וֹת זֶ֖רַע עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ	3	B	Likewise of the fowl of the heavens, seven by seven, male and female, to keep alive seed over the surface of all the earth.	3c	4B	15 12
כִּי֩ לְיָמִ֨ים ע֜וֹד שִׁבְעָ֗ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ מַמְטִ֣יר עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים לָ֑יְלָה וּמָחִ֗יתִי אֶֽת־כָּל־הַיְקוּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֔יתִי מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָֽאֲדָמָֽה	4	~	For in yet seven days I will cause rain upon the earth, a forty day and forty night span. I will wipe out all that was placed that I constructed from off the surface of the ground.	3e	4B	26 21
וַיַּ֖עַשׂ נֹ֑חַ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֖הוּ יְהוָֽה	5		So did Noah, according to everything that Yahweh had commanded.	3e	4A	5 9
וְנֹ֕חַ בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וְהַמַּבּ֣וּל הָיָ֔ה מַ֖יִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ	6		And Noah was a child of six hundred years, when the deluge was, of waters on the earth.	3e	4B	9 11
וַיָּ֣בֹא נֹ֗חַ וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וּנְשֵֽׁי־בָנָ֛יו אִתּ֖וֹ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֑ה מִפְּנֵ֖י מֵ֥י הַמַּבּֽוּל	7		And Noah entered and his children and his wife and the wives of his children with him to the barge, from the face of the waters of the deluge.	3c	4B	20 6
מִן־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ הַטְּהוֹרָ֔ה וּמִן־הַ֨בְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵינֶ֖נָּה טְהֹרָ֑ה וּמִ֨ן־הָע֔וֹף וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־רֹמֵ֖שׂ עַל־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה	8		From the beast that is clean and from the beast that is not clean, and from the fowl and all that creep over the ground,	3e	4A	20 15
שְׁנַ֨יִם שְׁנַ֜יִם בָּ֧אוּ אֶל־נֹ֛חַ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֖ה זָכָ֣ר וּנְקֵבָ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־נֹֽחַ	9		Two by two they entered, to Noah, into the barge, male and female, as God commanded Noah.	3c	4B	18 11
וַֽיְהִ֖י לְשִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים וּמֵ֣י הַמַּבּ֔וּל הָי֖וּ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ	10		And it happened on the seventh of the days, and the waters of the deluge were upon the earth.	3e	4B	8 11
בִּשְׁנַ֨ת שֵׁשׁ־מֵא֤וֹת שָׁנָה֙ לְחַיֵּי־נֹ֔חַ בַּחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י בְּשִׁבְעָֽה־עָשָׂ֥ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה נִבְקְעוּ֙ כָּֽל־מַעְיְנֹת֙ תְּה֣וֹם רַבָּ֔ה וַאֲרֻבֹּ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם נִפְתָּֽחוּ	11		In the six hundredth year, a year of the life of Noah, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on this day all the springs of the abyss were split to excess and the slits of the heavens were set wide open.	3e	4C	26 25
וַֽיְהִ֥י הַגֶּ֖שֶׁם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְאַרְבָּעִ֖ים לָֽיְלָה	12		And the heavy rain was upon the earth, a forty day and forty night span.	3e	4B	9 10
בְּעֶ֨צֶם הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ בָּ֣א נֹ֔חַ וְשֵׁם־וְחָ֥ם וָיֶ֖פֶת בְּנֵי־נֹ֑חַ וְאֵ֣שֶׁת נֹ֗חַ וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת נְשֵֽׁי־בָנָ֛יו אִתָּ֖ם אֶל־הַתֵּבָֽה	13		In the numerous instances of this day, entered Noah and Shem and Ham and Japhet the children of Noah, and the wife of Noah and the three wives of his children with them, into the barge.	3c	4C	20 17
הֵ֜מָּה וְכָל־הַֽחַיָּ֣ה לְמִינָ֗הּ וְכָל־הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְכָל־הָרֶ֛מֶשׂ הָרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וְכָל־הָע֣וֹף לְמִינֵ֔הוּ כֹּ֖ל צִפּ֥וֹר כָּל־כָּנָֽף	14	~	They and all the living of its species, and every beast of its species and every creeper that creeps upon the earth of its species, and all the fowl of its species, every bird of every wing.	3d	4B	34 14
וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ אֶל־נֹ֖חַ אֶל־הַתֵּבָ֑ה שְׁנַ֤יִם שְׁנַ֙יִם֙ מִכָּל־הַבָּשָׂ֔ר אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ ר֥וּחַ חַיִּֽים	15		And they came to Noah into the barge two by two, from all the flesh that has in it a spirit living.	3e	4C	10 16
וְהַבָּאִ֗ים זָכָ֨ר וּנְקֵבָ֤ה מִכָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֔אוּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה אֹת֖וֹ אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיִּסְגֹּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה בַּֽעֲדֽוֹ	16		And they that entered, male and female from all flesh, entered as God commanded him, and Yahweh placed the bar from within.	3d	4C	25 8
וַֽיְהִ֧י הַמַּבּ֛וּל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים י֖וֹם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּרְבּ֣וּ הַמַּ֗יִם וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙ אֶת־הַתֵּבָ֔ה וַתָּ֖רָם מֵעַ֥ל הָאָֽרֶץ	17		And the deluge was a forty day span upon the earth. And the waters increased and they lifted up the barge and it was exalted above the earth.	3c	4B	13 20
וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֛יִם וַיִּרְבּ֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ הַתֵּבָ֖ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם	18		And the waters prevailed and were much increased upon the earth, and the barge meandered upon the face of the waters.	3d	4A	15 12
וְהַמַּ֗יִם גָּֽבְר֛וּ מְאֹ֥ד מְאֹ֖ד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיְכֻסּ֗וּ כָּל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ הַגְּבֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָֽיִם	19		And the waters prevailed very much upon the earth, and covered all the haughty hills that were under all the heavens.	3d	4A	13 19
חֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה אַמָּה֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה גָּבְר֖וּ הַמָּ֑יִם וַיְכֻסּ֖וּ הֶהָרִֽים	20		Fifteen cubits from her ascent the waters prevailed, and they covered the hills.	3e	4C	14 6
וַיִּגְוַ֞ע כָּל־בָּשָׂ֣ר ׀ הָרֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ בָּע֤וֹף וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבַ֣חַיָּ֔ה וּבְכָל־הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכֹ֖ל הָאָדָֽם	21		And all flesh expired that creeps upon the earth, of fowl and of beast and of life, and of all that teem, that teem upon the earth, and all humanity.	3e	4C	35 5
כֹּ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁמַת־ר֨וּחַ חַיִּ֜ים בְּאַפָּ֗יו מִכֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֶּחָֽרָבָ֖ה מֵֽתוּ	22	~	All in whose nose is the breath of a living spirit, all that were in the desert, they died.	3d	3g	22
וַיִּ֜מַח אֶֽת־כָּל־הַיְק֣וּם ׀ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֗ה מֵאָדָ֤ם עַד־בְּהֵמָה֙ עַד־רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙ וְעַד־ע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיִּמָּח֖וּ מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִשָּׁ֧אֶר אַךְ־נֹ֛חַ וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ בַּתֵּבָֽה	23		And wiped out was all that was placed that is on the face of the ground, from human to beast to creeper and to the fowl of the heavens and they were wiped out from the earth, and the residue was but Noah and those who were with him on the barge.	3c	4C	40 14
וַיִּגְבְּר֥וּ הַמַּ֖יִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם	24		And the waters prevailed upon the earth, a hundred and fifty day span.	3e	4A	10 6

Psalm 117

Now here's fun. An uploaded score of Psalm 117, arranged by me this morning.

Tell me harpists - will it work? Here is the score on YouTube.

Amos 5

I hope to push the limits in the next couple of weeks to see how far I can get. We'll see. I am also preparing a presentation on the music for SBL regional meeting so there are other thought demands. The music always helps to hear the result of my reading, but I don't always look at everything.

Amos 5 seems as if it might be a central chapter (of 9 it is). It is also the chapter that supports the awful unaccompanied singing of the closed table assemblies that don't allow instruments. Well, hey, if I were God, I would close my ears at lots of the music in the churches and outside them and say so too.

There is no rest in the first verse and the 22nd. Now - can Amos, the not-prophet, write poetry? My Jerusalem Bible has all of Amos laid out as if it were poetry. It's still moot to me. The lines are longer than Job and the Psalms. (I could make the lines shorter by observing more accents as unambiguous carriage returns, but that is cheating I think.) There are a few verses that conform to typical poetic lengths (7-11 syllables roughly), a few that are shorter, and many that are much longer.

My use of the word conclave has naught to do with Rome. It is a handy term for an enclosed meeting.

The dirge that begins in verse 2 seems to carry on to the end of the chapter. There is a frame of lift up/borne (this root repeats in verse 11 for load) and the house of Israel. There is a repeated line containing search out and live. Gate repeats three times (10, 12, 15 as if hopeful of good government) and wailing (16,17). The segments or stanzas of this chapter as poetry are not obvious to me at the moment. There are no other significant recurrence patterns that I have uncovered by experiment.

Certain verses are encouraging like 14. But the promise of the God of hosts with you is muted by the afterthought, as you say. It is somewhat of a contrast with the threat of verse 17.

Amos 5		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
שִׁמְע֞וּ אֶת הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֜י נֹשֵׂ֧א עֲלֵיכֶ֛ם קִינָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	1		Hear this word that I lift up about you, a dirge for the house of Israel.	3c	4B	24
נָֽפְלָה֙ לֹֽא תוֹסִ֣יף ק֔וּם בְּתוּלַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נִטְּשָׁ֥ה עַל אַדְמָתָ֖הּ אֵ֥ין מְקִימָֽהּ	2		Fallen not again to arise is virgin Israel. Abandoned on her ground, there is none to raise her up.	3e	4B	12 10
כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הָעִ֛יר הַיֹּצֵ֥את אֶ֖לֶף תַּשְׁאִ֣יר מֵאָ֑ה וְהַיּוֹצֵ֥את מֵאָ֛ה תַּשְׁאִ֥יר עֲשָׂרָ֖ה לְבֵ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	3	B	For thus says my Lord Yahweh, The city, a thousand going out, will have a residue of a hundred, and a hundred going out, will have a residue of ten for the house of Israel.	3d	4C	20 16
כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֖ה לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל דִּרְשׁ֖וּנִי וִֽחְיֽוּ	4	B	Because thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel, Search me out and live.	3d	4B	11 5
וְאַֽל תִּדְרְשׁוּ֙ בֵּֽית אֵ֔ל וְהַגִּלְגָּל֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔אוּ וּבְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑רוּ כִּ֤י הַגִּלְגָּל֙ גָּלֹ֣ה יִגְלֶ֔ה וּבֵֽית אֵ֖ל יִהְיֶ֥ה לְאָֽוֶן	5		And do not search out Bethel, and the Gilgal do not enter, and to Beer-Sheva do not cross over, for the Gilgal is gone into exile and Bethel will be for mischief.	3e	4C	23 16
דִּרְשׁ֥וּ אֶת יְהוָ֖ה וִֽחְי֑וּ פֶּן יִצְלַ֤ח כָּאֵשׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵ֔ף וְאָכְלָ֥ה וְאֵין מְכַבֶּ֖ה לְבֵֽית אֵֽל	6		Search out Yahweh and live, lest he thrive as the fire of the house of Joseph and devour, and there is none to quench for Bethel.	3e	4C	7 19
הַהֹפְכִ֥ים לְלַעֲנָ֖ה מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה לָאָ֥רֶץ הִנִּֽיחוּ	7		You who change judgment to wormwood, and righteousness for the earth leave off,	3e	4A	9 9
עֹשֵׂ֨ה כִימָ֜ה וּכְסִ֗יל וְהֹפֵ֤ךְ לַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ צַלְמָ֔וֶת וְי֖וֹם לַ֣יְלָה הֶחְשִׁ֑יךְ הַקּוֹרֵ֣א לְמֵֽי הַיָּ֗ם וַֽיִּשְׁפְּכֵ֛ם עַל פְּנֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ יְהוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ	8		the one making the Pleiades and Orion and changing to morning the shadow of death, and darkening day to night, the one calling to the waters of the sea and pouring them out upon the face of the earth, Yahweh is his name.	3d	4C	21 21
הַמַּבְלִ֥יג שֹׁ֖ד עַל עָ֑ז וְשֹׁ֖ד עַל מִבְצָ֥ר יָבֽוֹא	9		Who smiles at devastation against strength, and devastation against the enclosures will come.	3e	4A	6 7
שָׂנְא֥וּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מוֹכִ֑יחַ וְדֹבֵ֥ר תָּמִ֖ים יְתָעֵֽבוּ	10		They hate at the gate a referee. And speaking what is complete, they abhor.	3e	4A	8 9
לָ֠כֵן יַ֣עַן בּוֹשַׁסְכֶ֞ם עַל־דָּ֗ל וּמַשְׂאַת־בַּר֙ תִּקְח֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ בָּתֵּ֥י גָזִ֛ית בְּנִיתֶ֖ם וְלֹא־תֵ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֑ם כַּרְמֵי־חֶ֣מֶד נְטַעְתֶּ֔ם וְלֹ֥א תִשְׁתּ֖וּ אֶת־יֵינָֽם	11	~	Therefore because you encroach on the weak, and a load of corn you take from them, houses of cut-stones you will build, and not settle in them. Attractive vineyards you will plant, and not imbibe their wine.	3d	4B	30 13
כִּ֤י יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ רַבִּ֣ים פִּשְׁעֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲצֻמִ֖ים חַטֹּֽאתֵיכֶ֑ם צֹרְרֵ֤י צַדִּיק֙ לֹ֣קְחֵי כֹ֔פֶר וְאֶבְיוֹנִ֖ים בַּשַּׁ֥עַר הִטּֽוּ	12	C	For I know your many transgressions and numerous are your sins. They trouble a righteous one, taking a cover-price, and the needy at the gate they bend.	3e	4C	17 17
לָכֵ֗ן הַמַּשְׂכִּ֛יל בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖יא יִדֹּ֑ם כִּ֛י עֵ֥ת רָעָ֖ה הִֽיא	13		Therefore the insightful at that time will be mute, for a time of evil it is.	3d	4A	11 5
דִּרְשׁוּ ט֥וֹב וְאַל רָ֖ע לְמַ֣עַן תִּֽחְי֑וּ וִיהִי כֵ֞ן יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵֽי צְבָא֛וֹת אִתְּכֶ֖ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּֽם	14		Search out goodness and do not be dejected so that you may live, and it will be so that Yahweh the God of hosts is with you as you say.	3c	4B	11 19
שִׂנְאוּ רָע֙ וְאֶ֣הֱבוּ ט֔וֹב וְהַצִּ֥יגוּ בַשַּׁ֖עַר מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אוּלַ֗י יֶֽחֱנַ֛ן יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁאֵרִ֥ית יוֹסֵֽף	15		Hate evil and love goodness and exhibit at the gate judgment. Maybe Yahweh, God of hosts will be gracious to the residue of Joseph.	3d	4B	17 18
לָ֠כֵן כֹּֽה אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י צְבָאוֹת֙ אֲדֹנָ֔י בְּכָל רְחֹב֣וֹת מִסְפֵּ֔ד וּבְכָל חוּצ֖וֹת יֹאמְר֣וּ הוֹ ה֑וֹ וְקָרְא֤וּ אִכָּר֙ אֶל אֵ֔בֶל וּמִסְפֵּ֖ד אֶל י֥וֹדְעֵי נֶֽהִי	16	~	Therefore thus says Yahweh God of hosts my Lord, In all the piazzas wailing, and in all the streets, it will be said, Aye yai yai. And they will call the farmer to lament, and wailing to those who know how to moan.	3e	4C	31 16
וּבְכָל כְּרָמִ֖ים מִסְפֵּ֑ד כִּֽי אֶעֱבֹ֥ר בְּקִרְבְּךָ֖ אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה	17		And in all vineyards wailing, for I pass through near you, says Yahweh.	3e	4A	7 12
ה֥וֹי הַמִּתְאַוִּ֖ים אֶת י֣וֹם יְהוָ֑ה לָמָּה זֶּ֥ה לָכֶ֛ם י֥וֹם יְהוָ֖ה הוּא חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא אֽוֹר	18	f	Alas, those who desire the day of Yahweh. Why this for you? The day of Yahweh, it is darkness and not light.	3d	4B	10 14
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָנ֥וּס אִישׁ֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָאֲרִ֔י וּפְגָע֖וֹ הַדֹּ֑ב וּבָ֣א הַבַּ֔יִת וְסָמַ֤ךְ יָדוֹ֙ עַל הַקִּ֔יר וּנְשָׁכ֖וֹ הַנָּחָֽשׁ	19		As if someone withdraws from the presence of the lion and the bear comes across him, or he enters the house and supports his hand on the house wall and the snake takes interest in him.	3e	4C	16 19
הֲלֹא חֹ֛שֶׁךְ י֥וֹם יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹא א֑וֹר וְאָפֵ֖ל וְלֹא נֹ֥גַֽהּ לֽוֹ	20		Is it not darkness, the day of Yahweh and not light? And gloom and no illumination for it?	3d	4A	10 8
שָׂנֵ֥אתִי מָאַ֖סְתִּי חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם	21		I hate, I refuse your festivities, and I will not smell in your conclaves.	3e	4A	9 10
כִּ֣י אִם תַּעֲלוּ לִ֥י עֹל֛וֹת וּמִנְחֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֣א אֶרְצֶ֑ה וְשֶׁ֥לֶם מְרִיאֵיכֶ֖ם לֹ֥א אַבִּֽיט	22	B	For if you offer up to me burnt offerings and your gifts, I will not accept, and peace offerings of fatlings I will not take note of.	3d	4B	16 10
הָסֵ֥ר מֵעָלַ֖י הֲמ֣וֹן שִׁרֶ֑יךָ וְזִמְרַ֥ת נְבָלֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶשְׁמָֽע	23		Put aside from me the tumult of your songs, and the psalm of your lutes I will not hear.	3e	4B	10 10
וְיִגַּ֥ל כַּמַּ֖יִם מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה כְּנַ֥חַל אֵיתָֽן	24		Let judgment roll like water, and righteousness like a perennial torrent.	3e	4A	7 8
הַזְּבָחִ֨ים וּמִנְחָ֜ה הִֽגַּשְׁתֶּם לִ֧י בַמִּדְבָּ֛ר אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל	25		Offerings and gift have you brought close to me in the wilderness a forty year span, O house of Israel?	3c	3g	22
וּנְשָׂאתֶ֗ם אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם לָכֶֽם	26		But you have borne the booth of your Moloch and Kyon, your images, the star of your God that you have constructed for yourselves.	3e	4C	16 13
וְהִגְלֵיתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵהָ֣לְאָה לְדַמָּ֑שֶׂק אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ	27		So I will exile you, removed far beyond Damascus, says Yahweh. The God of hosts is his name.	3d	4B	13 12