Dust: Oracle part 2, Psalms 111-112

Wednesday 10 November 2021

Oracle part 2, Psalms 111-112

These two remarkable acrostics describe the character of Yahweh and the one who fears Yahweh. Such a character. In the oratorio I use only the first three verses of each Psalm. But the whole is more easily read, so I have reproduced each below for your delight.

I was asking about memory - and I could think of my own character! I just found some of my writing from round about the turn of the millennium. I had just reached the age of Dostoyevsky's Idiot. Take care you who are at this age. On the surface your character may be acceptable, even pious, but in depth, you may have covered over things that will embarrass you in the light. Perhaps I will republish some of my early work on the Liturgy and other things. And perhaps not. They are an indication of what my theology was then - certainly a bit less rigid than 50 years ago, but without any serious grounding in the Tanach. Now having read the Hebrew canon - what can I say? I often feel tongue-tied though I have not rejected what I learned earlier in my life. Perhaps my tongue will be loosed again - certainly I think we all ought to think carefully before speaking or acting.

I also asked what I was writing about 25 years ago. I wasn't writing. I was spending every day visiting hospital or rehab where my eldest son was recovering from a massive accident that left him crippled. He survived on his own another 23 years until strokes from the brain damage incurred at the time of the accident rendered him incapable. The damaged brain ages prematurely. He is in long term care just 1500 meters from where I write today. I will take him to the pub for lunch today. I didn't need the internet to remind me of this.

Psalms 111

Psalms 111:3

Verily his righteousness stands in perpetuity
Syllables: 183. Words: 74. Roots: 49. Root Recurrence: 53%. Average per verse: 3.9.

amn amt (2) brit (2) ck cl (4) drw 'trp 'tvb gdl gvi hdr hll (2) hm hvd id idh ih ihvh (4) ira (3) iwr (2) kcm knn kpx lbb ngd nkl ntn (2) pdh pla pqd pyl qdw raw rkm smc svd wcl wlk wm wp't xdq xvh yd (3) ydh ylm (3) ym (2) ymd (2) ywh (6) zcr (2)

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ אוֹדֶ֣ה יְ֭הוָה בְּכָל־לֵבָ֑ב בְּס֖וֹד יְשָׁרִ֣ים וְעֵדָֽה		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. I will thank Yahweh with a whole heart, Before the council of the upright, and assembly.
a hllu-ih aodh ihvh bcl-lbb bsod iwrim vydh	11 8	hll\v ih av/dh ihvh b/cl lbb b/svd iwr\im v/ydh
גְּ֭דֹלִים מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יְהוָ֑ה דְּ֝רוּשִׁ֗ים לְכָל־חֶפְצֵיהֶֽם		2 ♪g Great are the deeds of Yahweh, Delight of all who search them out.
b gdolim mywi ihvh druwim lcl-kpxihm	8 8	gdl\im m/yw\i ihvh drvw\im l/cl kpx\ihm
הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר פָּֽעֳל֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד		3 Honour and splendour his work, Verily his righteousness stands for ever.
g hod-vhdr poylo vxdqto yomdt lyd	7 9	hvd v/hdr pyl\v v/xdq\tv ymd\t l/yd
זֵ֣כֶר עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה		4 ♪B Zoomed in to memory makes he his wonderful works, How gracious and compassionate is Yahweh.
d zcr ywh lnplaotiv knun vrkum ihvh	9 7	zcr ywh ln/pla\vtiv knvn v/rkvm ihvh
טֶ֭רֶף נָתַ֣ן לִֽירֵאָ֑יו יִזְכֹּ֖ר לְעוֹלָ֣ם בְּרִיתֽוֹ		5 ♪g To those who fear him he gives prey, Yea, he remembers forever his covenant.
h 'trf ntn liraiv izcor lyolm brito	7 8	+rp ntn l/ira\iv i/zcr l/yvlm brit\v
כֹּ֣חַ מַ֭עֲשָׂיו הִגִּ֣יד לְעַמּ֑וֹ לָתֵ֥ת לָ֝הֶ֗ם נַחֲלַ֥ת גּוֹיִֽם		6 ♪B Known to his people is the power of his deeds, Letting them have the heritage of the nations.
v cok mywiv hgid lymo ltt lhm nklt goiim	10 9	ck m/yw\iv h/gd l/ym\v l/tt l/hm nkl\t gvi\m
מַעֲשֵׂ֣י יָ֭דָיו אֱמֶ֣ת וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נֶ֝אֱמָנִ֗ים כָּל־פִּקּוּדָֽיו		7 Mark the deeds of his hands: truth and judgment, Near and faithful are all his precepts,
z mywi idiv amt umwp't namnim cl-piqudiv	10 8	m/yw\i id\iv amt vm/wp+ n/amn\im cl pqvd\iv
סְמוּכִ֣ים לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם עֲ֝שׂוּיִ֗ם בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת וְיָשָֽׁר		8 Supported for ever, forever, All done in truth and upright.
k smucim lyd lyolm ywuiim bamt viwr	8 9	smvc\im l/yd l/yvlm yw\vim b/amt v/iwr
פְּד֤וּת ׀ שָׁ֘לַ֤ח לְעַמּ֗וֹ צִוָּֽה־לְעוֹלָ֥ם בְּרִית֑וֹ קָד֖וֹשׁ וְנוֹרָ֣א שְׁמֽוֹ		9 Purchase price he has sent to his people, So he commands his covenant forever, Quite holy and fearful his name.
't pdut wlk lymo xivvh-lyolm brito qdow vnora wmo	15 7	pd\vt wlk l/ym\v xvh l/yvlm brit\v qdw vnv/ra wm\v
רֵ֘אשִׁ֤ית חָכְמָ֨ה ׀ יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד		10 ♪~ Right at the beginning of wisdom is the fear of Yahweh, Surely a good insight for all doing them, To stand his praise for ever.
i rawit kcmh irat ihvh wcl 'tob lcl-yowihm thilto yomdt lyd	16 9	raw\it kcm\h ira\t ihvh wcl +vb l/cl yw\ihm t/hl\tv ymd\t l/yd

Recurrence pattern: amt brit hll zcr ihvh ira iwr cl ntn yd ylm ym ymd ywh

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	1	2	3	4	Vs	Stem
הללו hallelu	▒														1	הלל
יהוה Yahweh		▒													1	יהוה
בכל with a whole			▒												1	כל
ישרים the upright				▒											1	ישר
מעשי the deeds of					▒										2	עשה
יהוה Yahweh		▒													2	יהוה
לכל of all			▒												2	כל
עמדת stands						▒									3	עמד
לעד for ever							▒								3	עד
זכר zoomed in to memory								▒							4	זכר
עשה makes he					▒										4	עשה
יהוה Yahweh		▒													4	יהוה
נתן he gives									▒						5	נתן
ליראיו to those who fear him										▒					5	ירא
יזכר yea he remembers								▒							5	זכר
לעולם forever											▒				5	עלם
בריתו his covenant												▒			5	ברית
מעשיו his deeds					▒										6	עשה
לעמו to his people													▒		6	עם
לתת letting have									▒						6	נתן
מעשי mark the deeds of					▒										7	עשה
אמת truth														▒	7	אמת
כל all			▒												7	כל
לעד for ever							▒								8	עד
לעולם forever											▒				8	עלם
עשוים all done					▒										8	עשה
באמת in truth														▒	8	אמת
וישר and upright				▒											8	ישר
לעמו to his people													▒		9	עם
לעולם forever											▒				9	עלם
בריתו his covenant												▒			9	ברית
ונורא and fearful										▒					9	ירא
יראת is the fear of										▒					10	ירא
יהוה Yahweh		▒													10	יהוה
לכל for all			▒												10	כל
עשיהם doing them					▒										10	עשה
תהלתו his praise	▒														10	הלל
עמדת to stand						▒									10	עמד
לעד for ever							▒								10	עד

Psalms 112

Psalms 112:1

Syllables: 177. Words: 79. Roots: 60. Root Recurrence: 44%. Average per verse: 3.5.

abd abivn aiw (2) arx at avh avr awr (2) b'tk bit brc cbd ci cvl cvn cys dbr dvr 'tvb gbr hih (2) hll hvn ih ihvh (2) ira (3) iwr (2) knn (2) kpx krq kwc la (3) lb (2) lvh mad mss mv't ntn pzr qrn rah (2) rkm rvm rwy (2) ryy smc wmy wn wp't xdiq (2) xdq (2) xrr xvh yd (3) ylm (2) ymd (2) ywr zcr zrk zry

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. A happy person fears Yahweh. By his commandments he has much delight.
a hllu-ih awri-aiw ira at-ihvh bmxvotiv kpx maod	11 8	hll\v ih awr\i aiw ira at ihvh bm/xv\tiv kpx mad
גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ דּ֭וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ		2 Grandly valiant in the earth will be his seed. Days of the upright will be blessed.
b gibor barx ihih zryo dor iwrim iborç	9 7	gbr b/arx i/hih zry\v dvr iwr\im i/brc
הוֹן־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד		3 High value and riches are in his house. Verily his righteousness stands for ever.
g hon-vyowr bbito vxdqto yomdt lyd	7 9	hvn v/ywr b/bit\v v/xdq\tv ymd\t l/yd
זָ֘רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֭וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק		4 ♪~ Zenith-bearing in the darkness there is light to the upright. He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
d zrk bkowç aor liwrim knun vrkum vxdiq	9 8	zrk b/kwc avr l/iwr\im knvn v/rkvm v/xdiq
טֽוֹב־אִ֭ישׁ חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט		5 This is a good person, gracious and lending. Yea, he will rein in his words with judgment.
h 'tob-aiw konn umlvvh iclcl dbriv bmwp't	7 9	+vb aiw kvnn vm/lvh icl/cl dbr\iv bm/wp+
כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֥ם לֹא־יִמּ֑וֹט לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֝וֹלָ֗ם יִהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק		6 Causing him never to be moved. Lasting forever in memory is one who is righteous.
v ci-lyolm la-iimo't lzcr yolm ihih xdiq	6 9	ci l/yvlm la i/mv+ l/zcr yvlm i/hih xdiq
מִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהוָֽה		7 Messages of evil he does not fear. Now his heart is prepared, trusting in Yahweh.
z mwmuyh ryh la iira ncon libo b'tuk bihvh	8 9	m/wmvy\h ry\h la i/ira n/cvn lb\v b+k b/ihvh
סָמ֣וּךְ לִ֭בּוֹ לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו		8 Supported is his heart, he does not fear, Even when it is that he sees his troubles.
k smuç libo la iira yd awr-irah bxriv	7 8	smvc lb\v la i/ira yd awr i/rah b/xr\iv
פִּזַּ֤ר ׀ נָ֘תַ֤ן לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים צִ֭דְקָתוֹ עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד קַ֝רְנ֗וֹ תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֽוֹד		9 Prodigal of love, he gives to the-many needy. Standing for ever is his righteousness. Quite full his horn, exalted in glory.
't pizr ntn labionim xdqto yomdt lyd qrno trum bcbod	16 7	pzr ntn l/abivn\im xdq\tv ymd\t l/yd qrn\v t/rvm b/cbd
רָ֘שָׁ֤ע יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ וְכָעָ֗ס שִׁנָּ֣יו יַחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס תַּאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד		10 ♪~ Rebel will see and will grieve. So will his teeth gnash and decay. The desire of rebels will perish.
i rwy irah vcys winiv ikroq vnms tavvt rwyim tabd	15 8	rwy i/rah v/cys wn\iv i/krq vn/ms t/av\t rwy\im t/abd