#Psalmtweet #Psalter 61:3

 

Language as metaphor. What is it that is higher?

מִקְצֵ֤ה הָאָ֨רֶץ ׀ אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֶ֭קְרָא בַּעֲטֹ֣ף לִבִּ֑י בְּצוּר־יָר֖וּם מִמֶּ֣נִּי תַנְחֵֽנִי		3 From the extremity of the earth, to you I will call when my heart is overwhelmed. To the rock that is higher than I, you will guide me.
g mqxh harx aliç aqra by'tof libi bxur-irum mmni tnkni	15 10	m/qxh h/arx al\ic a/qra b/y'tp lb\i b/xvr i/rvm m/mn\i t/nk\ni

A recent conversation with Philippe Sands

 On YouTube here

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 60:4

 Does prayer move God? Does it move the responsive people? Does it work through the community?

 ארצ arx (erets) is either land or earth as a whole.

הִרְעַ֣שְׁתָּה אֶ֣רֶץ פְּצַמְתָּ֑הּ רְפָ֖ה שְׁבָרֶ֣יהָ כִי־מָֽטָה		4 You have made earth quake. You fracture it. Heal her rifts for she is moved.
d hrywt arx pxmth rph wbrih ci-m'th	8 8	h/ryw\th arx pxm\th rp\h wbr\ih ci m't\h

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 59:5

 A note on this psalm as a whole and its translation is here.

Without whose iniquity? Note that verse five does not return to the tonic. It ends in mid-air!

בְּֽלִי־עָ֭וֺן יְרוּצ֣וּן וְיִכּוֹנָ֑נוּ ע֖וּרָה לִקְרָאתִ֣י וּרְאֵה		5 Without iniquity, they race and prepare themselves. Be aroused to my call and see!
h bli-yvon iruxun viiconnu yurh lqrati urah	11 7	bli yvn i/rx\vn vi/cvn\nv yvr\h l/qra\ti v/rah

Have you ever considered how much interpretation every translator puts into the work of rendering a text in another tongue? I grew up with Coverdale and I have loved the phrasing, but isn't it true that archaism produces its own beauty when one gets used to it? I love Anglican chant and plainsong also. The pulse and the variations of regularity appeal. But what is the psalter saying to me? Can I respond? Should I respond? Who speaks and to whom? Does ancient story and mythology help me govern myself? Read the comment at the link above -- there you can read the whole poem also. And sing all of it to the music of the accents here. (Also you can find out how the next verse resolves the mid-air ending of verse 5.)

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 58:1

 

Mysteries in the inscriptions

What is a miktam? Why is this psalm headed 'Do not destroy'? A little info on genres as inscribed is here.

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵ֗ת לְדָוִ֥ד מִכְתָּֽם		1 For the leader. Do not destroy. Of David, a miktam.
a lmnxk al-twkt ldvid mctm	12	lm/nxk al t/wkt l/dvd m/ctm

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 57:8

 

Sung here

נָ֘כ֤וֹן לִבִּ֣י אֱ֭לֹהִים נָכ֣וֹן לִבִּ֑י אָ֝שִׁ֗ירָה וַאֲזַמֵּֽרָה		8 ♪~ Prepared is my heart O God, prepared is my heart. I will sing and I will sing a psalm.
k ncon libi alohim ncon libi awirh vazmrh	11 8	n/cvn lb\i alh\im n/cvn lb\i a/wir\h va/zmr\h

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 56:9

 

נֹדִי֮ סָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה־אָ֥תָּה שִׂ֣ימָה דִמְעָתִ֣י בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ הֲ֝לֹ֗א בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ		9 My waverings you yourself book. You lay up my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
't nodi sprt-ath wimh dmyti bnadç hloa bsprtç	7 9 7	nd\i spr\th ath wim\h dmy\ti b/nad\c h/la b/spr\tc

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 55:2

 

obscure, עלם, the hidden part of 'forever'.

הַאֲזִ֣ינָה אֱ֭לֹהִים תְּפִלָּתִ֑י וְאַל־תִּ֝תְעַלַּ֗ם מִתְּחִנָּתִֽי		2 Give ear O God to my prayer, and do not obscure yourself from my supplication.
b hazinh alohim tpilti val-ttylm mtkinti	11 9	h/azn\h alh\im t/pl\ti v/al tt/ylm mt/kn\ti

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 54:9

 

Does it help to see into your enemies?

כִּ֣י מִכָּל־צָ֭רָה הִצִּילָ֑נִי וּ֝בְאֹיְבַ֗י רָאֲתָ֥ה עֵינִֽי		9 ♪B For from all trouble he has delivered me, and into my enemies my eye has seen.
't ci mcl-xrh hxilni ubaoibii rath yini	9 8	ci m/cl xr\h h/xl\ni vb/aib\i ra\th yin\i

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 53:2

 Compare Psalm 14. The ornaments differ between the two in the second half of the verse. One is revia only, this is revia mugrash, a combination that occurs frequently in the poetry books, but this is the first time I have seen it twice in one verse.

The versification differs from Psalm 14. The final four notes are striking.

אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽ֝שְׁחִ֗יתוּ וְהִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝֗וֶל אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב		2 ♪~ Senseless said in its heart, God? Nothing. They destroy, they do abomination, injustice. There is none doing good.
b amr nbl blibo ain alohim hwkitu vhtyibu yvvl ain yowh-'tob	11 13	amr nbl b/lb\v ain alh\im h/wkt\v h/tyb\v yvl ain ywh 'tvb

A reading and a conversation with Malcolm Guite, Roger Wagner and Susan Gillingham here.

An Afterthought

This Psalm (as part of the Elohist Psalter) uses Elohim where Psalm 14 uses Yahweh. "The classical rabbis developed a theory of the two attributes of God that He takes into account when dealing with humans. One is the attribute of justice (middat ha-din) and the other is the attribute of mercy (middat ha-rahamim). The rabbis divide these attributes according to God’s name, claiming that whenever Elohim (a generic name for God) is used, it refers to the attribute of justice, and whenever YHWH is used, it refers to mercy." Ronald Hendel on thetorah.com

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 52:3

 

Doeg the Edomite has a misplaced sense of security - sung here.

מַה־תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל בְּ֭רָעָה הַגִּבּ֑וֹר חֶ֥סֶד אֵ֝֗ל כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם		3 Why do you boast in evil, O valiant one? The kindness of God is all the day long.
g mh-tthll bryh hgibor ksd al cl-hiom	10 6	mh tt/hll b/ry\h h/gbr ksd al cl h/ivm

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 51:16

 

הַצִּ֘ילֵ֤נִי מִדָּמִ֨ים ׀ אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים אֱלֹהֵ֥י תְּשׁוּעָתִ֑י תְּרַנֵּ֥ן לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י צִדְקָתֶֽךָ		16 Deliver me from the guilt of shed blood, O God, the God of my salvation. My tongue will shout for joy at your righteousness.
'tz hxilni mdmim alohim alohi twuyti trnn lwoni xdqtç	16 10	h/xl\ni m/dmm alh\im alh\i t/w\vyti t/rnn lwvn\i xdq\tc

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 50:14

 

Such a straightforward request

זְבַ֣ח לֵאלֹהִ֣ים תּוֹדָ֑ה וְשַׁלֵּ֖ם לְעֶלְי֣וֹן נְדָרֶֽיךָ		14 Offer thanksgiving to God, and pay your vows to the Most High.
id zbk lalohim todh vwlm lylion ndriç	7 10	zbk l/alh\im tv/dh v/wlm l/ylivn ndr\ic

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 49:5

 

Some songs are riddles

אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽי		5 I will bend to a parable my ear. I will open my riddle on a harp.
h a'th lmwl aozni aptk bcinor kidti	7 8	a/'th l/mwl azn\i a/ptk b/cnr kid\ti

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 48:3

The town is sung on the subdominant, the note that rests mid-verse in over 90% of the verses of the Hebrew Bible. Is this town at rest?

the city of our God, his holy hill - sung here.

יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב		3 Beautiful in elevation, the joy of all the earth, the hill of Zion, the flanks of the North, the town of a munificent king.
g iph nof mwow cl-harx hr-xion ircti xpon qrit mlç rb	9 8 5	iph nvp m/wvw cl h/arx hr xivn irc\ti xpvn qr\it mlc rb

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 47:7

 

Sing psalms

זַמְּר֣וּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים זַמֵּ֑רוּ זַמְּר֖וּ לְמַלְכֵּ֣נוּ זַמֵּֽרוּ		7 Sing psalms to God sing psalms. Sing psalms to our king sing psalms.
z zmru alohim zmru zmru lmlcnu zmru	8 9	zmr\v l/alh\im zmr\v zmr\v l/mlc\nv zmr\v

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 46:2

The whole of this psalm for young women - a song.

For young women. A song.

אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד		2 God is our refuge and strength. Help in trouble, he has made himself easily found.
b alohim lnu mksh vyoz yzrh bxrot nmxa maod	10 9	alh\im l\nv m/ksh v/yz yzr\h b/xr\vt n/mxa mad

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 45:1

 Upon lilies - an image worth pondering. Here is a verse that no chorister ever sings. 

Who is it that can have insight? Does that one force insight onto others?

לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת		1 For the leader upon lilies, of the children of Korah. An insight. A song of two beloved.
a lmnxk yl-wownim lbni-qork mwcil wir ididot	11 6	lm/nxk yl wwn\im l/bn\i qrk m/wcl wir i/did\t

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 44:27

 

The final appeal from a poem of lament.

ק֭וּמָֽה עֶזְרָ֣תָה לָּ֑נוּ וּ֝פְדֵ֗נוּ לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ		27 ♪g Arise to help us, and ransom us for the sake of your kindness.
cz qumh yzrth lnu updnu lmyn ksdç	7 9	qvm\h yzr\th l\nv v/pd\nv lmyn ksd\c

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 43:1

 

A brave request - sung here

שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ וְרִ֘יבָ֤ה רִיבִ֗י מִגּ֥וֹי לֹא־חָסִ֑יד מֵ֤אִישׁ מִרְמָ֖ה וְעַוְלָ֣ה תְפַלְּטֵֽנִי		1 Judge me O God and strive my strife with a nation without one who is merciful. From a deceitful and unjust person secure me.
a wop'tni alohim vribh ribi mgoi la-ksid maiw mrmh vyvvlh tpl'tni	16 11	wp't\ni alh\im v/rib\h rib\i m/gvi la ksid m/aiw m/rmh v/yvl\h t/pl't\ni

The refrain of verse 5 seems to suggest that this psalm continues Psalm 42.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 42:10

 Psalm 42 begins book 2 of the psalter. The boundaries of the books are defined by the doxology that occurs at the end of each book. Psalm 42 also begins a group of psalms that use the name Elohim more often than Yahweh. The psalms from 42 to 83 are sometimes referred to as the Elohist Psalter.

Abandoned?

אוֹמְרָ֤ה ׀ לְאֵ֥ל סַלְעִי֮ לָמָ֪ה שְׁכַ֫חְתָּ֥נִי לָֽמָּה־קֹדֵ֥ר אֵלֵ֗ךְ בְּלַ֣חַץ אוֹיֵֽב		10 I will say to the One, my cliff, Why have you forgotten me? Why mourning do I walk around in the grip of an enemy?
i aomrh lal slyi lmh wcktni lmh-qodr alç blkx aoib	12 11	avmr\h l/al sly\i lmh wck\tni lmh qdr a/lc b/lkx ab

#Psalmtweet #Psalter - an extra bit on violence

 The first mention of violence in Genesis.

וַתִּשָּׁחֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לִפְנֵ֣י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתִּמָּלֵ֥א הָאָ֖רֶץ חָמָֽס		11 And impaired was the earth in the face of this God, and the land was filled with violence.
ia vtiwkt harx lpni halohim vtimla harx kms	13 9	vt/wkt h/arx l/pn\i h/alh\im vt/mla h/arx kms

Note the word kms - in Hebrew חמס Hamas. A coincidence? I see that some have already invoked the flood metaphorically.

The last mention of violence in the Psalms.

אִ֥ישׁ לָשׁוֹן֮ בַּל־יִכּ֪וֹן בָּ֫אָ֥רֶץ אִישׁ־חָמָ֥ס רָ֑ע יְ֝צוּדֶ֗נּוּ לְמַדְחֵפֹֽת		12 ♪f A slanderer will not be established in the earth. A violent person, evil, will hound unrelentingly.
ib aiw lwon bl-iicon barx aiw-kms ry ixudnu lmdkpot	9 4 8	aiw lwvn bl i/cvn b/arx aiw kms ry i/xvd\nv lm/dkp\t

Psalm 140 - violence occurs 3 times in this psalm. Pause as noted.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 41:2

 

Four beatitudes frame book 1 of the Psalter, 2 in psalms 1-2 and 2 in psalms 40-41
and there are four more in psalms 32-34

אַ֭שְׁרֵי מַשְׂכִּ֣יל אֶל־דָּ֑ל בְּי֥וֹם רָ֝עָ֗ה יְֽמַלְּטֵ֥הוּ יְהוָֽה		2 ♪g Happy the one giving insight to the weak. In the day of evil Yahweh will let him escape.
b awri mwcil al-dl biom ryh iml'thu ihvh	6 10	awr\i m/wcl al dl b/ivm ry\h i/ml't\hv ihvh

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 40:3

 

Salvation

וַיַּעֲלֵ֤נִי ׀ מִבּ֥וֹר שָׁאוֹן֮ מִטִּ֪יט הַיָּ֫וֵ֥ן וַיָּ֖קֶם עַל־סֶ֥לַע רַגְלַ֗י כּוֹנֵ֥ן אֲשֻׁרָֽי		3 He brought me up from a noisy pit, from wine-soaked muck, and placed my feet on a cliff, establishing my steps.
g viylni mbor waon m'ti't hivvn viqm yl-sly rglii conn awurii	14 13	vi/yl\ni m/bvr wa\vn m/'ti't h/ivn vi/qm yl sly rgl\i cvn\n awr\i

Note this bi-colon has no rest on the subdominant (A) but only the rest on the supertonic (on the first note of bar 5). The music perhaps signals that there is no complete rest until the poet's "steps are established". There are 45 verses in the Psalter that have this limited structure.

This contrasts with the 298 verses that are tri-cola having both these cadences within them; 2,037 verses have a rest on the subdominant only. And 147 verses of the Psalms are single line verses with rests on neither the subdominant nor the supertonic. 

The total number of verses in the Psalms is 2,527 - of which 2,037 are bi-cola with a rest on the subdominant. That leaves 490 verses that are of variant harmonic forms (45 with just a cadence on the supertonic + 298 with both cadences + 147 with no internal cadence). 

There are also 11 verses that fail to end on the tonic. I will show an example in a later post (Ps 89 if you want to look ahead). 

Why did the ancient musicians hear this way?

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 39:14

Limited similitude meditating ...

It's hard not to think of Maurice Greene -- Lord let me know mine end ... 

הָשַׁ֣ע מִמֶּ֣נִּי וְאַבְלִ֑יגָה בְּטֶ֖רֶם אֵלֵ֣ךְ וְאֵינֶֽנִּי		14 Look at me and I will smile, ere I walk off and there is no me.
id hwy mmni vabligh b'trm alç vainni	9 9	h/wy m/mn\i va/blg\h b/'trm a/lc v/ain\ni

Could a mid 18th C composer make something of the melodic material here?

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 38:2

This psalm is entitled 'to remember'. What is it we are supposed to remember?

Remember Psalm 6 of course.

 

מִזְמ֖וֹר לְדָוִ֣ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר		1 A psalm of David. To remember.
a mzmor ldvid lhzcir	8	m/zmr l/dvd lh/zcr
יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּקֶצְפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי		2 Yahweh, do not in your rage correct me, or in your heat chasten me.
b ihvh al-bqxpç tocikni ubkmtç tiisrni	11 9	ihvh al b/qxp\c tv/c\ikni vb/km\tc t/isr\ni

#Psalter 37:37-38 Acrostic 4

 Psalm 37 celebrates Psalm 36.

The acrostic sections in this psalm span 2 verses each.

שְׁמָר־תָּ֭ם וּרְאֵ֣ה יָשָׁ֑ר כִּֽי־אַחֲרִ֖ית לְאִ֣ישׁ שָׁלֽוֹם		37 Shelter the complete and see the upright, because the result for each is peace.
lz wmor-tm urah iwr ci-akrit laiw wlom	7 7	wmr tm v/rah iwr ci akr\it l/aiw wlvm
וּֽ֭פֹשְׁעִים נִשְׁמְד֣וּ יַחְדָּ֑ו אַחֲרִ֖ית רְשָׁעִ֣ים נִכְרָֽתָה		38 ♪g But transgressors will be exterminated together. The result for the wicked is to be cut off.
lk upowyim nwmdu ikdiv akrit rwyim ncrth	8 9	v/pwy\im n/wmd\v ikd\v akr\it rwy\im n/crt\h

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 36:2 An oracle

 We have met the enemy ... (Pogo)

There are only two 'oracles' in the Psalter, Psalms 36 and 110.
Both are followed by acrostic poems (37 and 111-112).

נְאֻֽם־פֶּ֣שַׁע לָ֭רָשָׁע בְּקֶ֣רֶב לִבִּ֑י אֵֽין־פַּ֥חַד אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים לְנֶ֣גֶד עֵינָֽיו		2 An oracle on the transgression of the wicked within my heart, there is no dread of God before its eyes.
b naum-pwy lrwy bqrb libi ain-pkd alohim lngd yiniv	12 11	nam pwy l/rwy b/qrb lb\i ain pkd alh\im l/ngd yin\iv

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 35:28

 

Righteousness - coordination, ligaments, muscle, balance, inheritance, evolution, difference, uncertainty, kindness, codetermined, not predetermined, one responsive and responsible body

וּ֭לְשׁוֹנִי תֶּהְגֶּ֣ה צִדְקֶ֑ךָ כָּל־הַ֝יּוֹם תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ		28 ♪g And my tongue will meditate on your righteousness, all the day long your praises.
ck ulwoni thgh xdqç cl-hiom thilotiç	8 8	v/lwvn\i t/hgh xdq\c cl h/ivm t/hl\tc

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 34:9 Acrostic 3

 Acrostics celebrate the poem just prior to them. Apart from Psalms 1-2 which introduce the psalter as a whole, and Psalm 10 which continues Psalm 9,  Psalm 33 is the only one in Book 1 lacking the inscription ldvd.

An invitation to science -- knowledge -- experiment and result

טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּי־ט֣וֹב יְהוָ֑ה אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ		9 Taste and see for Yahweh is good. Happy the valiant that takes refuge in him.
't 'tymu urau ci-'tob ihvh awri hgbr iksh-bo	9 9	'tym\v v/ra\v ci 'tvb ihvh awr\i h/gbr i/ksh b\v

Do your research.

Notice that the name of the musical accents is te'amim טעמי המקרא. 'tymi hmqra This root is translated as taste above. These accents are sometimes called marks of taste. There are a thousand things that you will have 'discovered' that point you to a religious framework of one kind or another. If the religious framework produces violence, jealousy, envy, and unhappiness, then maybe something needs to be reconsidered. There is no conflict between the scientific method and religion. We are to have confidence in our shared reality and what we discover about it.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 33:2

Note that word nbl - senseless in psalm 14 but here a homonym - the lute.
And hear -- what you are supposed to sing -- a psalm zmr.

הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר בְּנֵ֥בֶל עָ֝שׂ֗וֹר זַמְּרוּ־לֽוֹ		2 Give thanks to Yahweh on a harp. On a ten-stringed lute sing a psalm to him.
b hodu lihvh bcinor bnbl ywor zmru-lo	7 7	hv/d\v l/ihvh b/cnr b/nbl ywr zmr\v l\v

Here's an example of my work on this psalm with an English underlay to the melodies.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter out of sequence. Psalm 109:1-6

I won't forget this psalm on the 18th of December either. May it be accomplished by then.

Do you dare to read this psalm? Throughout the psalter, we read of the triumph of Yahweh, of Yahweh as king. Do we imagine that Yahweh rules as an oligarch rules, as one who demands protection money?

Psalm 109:1-6 A prayer for justice against evil

לַ֭מְנַצֵּחַ לְדָוִ֣ד מִזְמ֑וֹר אֱלֹהֵ֥י תְ֝הִלָּתִ֗י אַֽל־תֶּחֱרַֽשׁ		1 ♪g For the leader, of David a psalm. God of my praise do not be silent.
a lmnxk ldvid mzmor alohi thilti al-tkrw	9 11	lm/nxk l/dvd m/zmr alh\i t/hl\ti al t/krw
כִּ֤י פִ֪י רָשָׁ֡ע וּֽפִי־מִ֭רְמָה עָלַ֣י פָּתָ֑חוּ דִּבְּר֥וּ אִ֝תִּ֗י לְשׁ֣וֹן שָֽׁקֶר		2 ♪C For the mouth of a criminal and the mouth of deceit are open over me. They speak to me with a false tongue.
b ci pi rwy upi-mrmh ylii ptku dibru aiti lwon wqr	13 8	ci p\i rwy v/p\i m/rmh yl\i ptk\v dbr\v at\i lwvn wqr
וְדִבְרֵ֣י שִׂנְאָ֣ה סְבָב֑וּנִי וַיִּֽלָּחֲמ֥וּנִי חִנָּֽם		3 With hate-speech they surround me, and they battle me for nothing.
g vdbri wnah sbbuni viilkmuni kinm	9 8	v/dbr\i wna\h sbb\vni vi/lkm\vni knm
תַּֽחַת־אַהֲבָתִ֥י יִשְׂטְנ֗וּנִי וַאֲנִ֥י תְפִלָּֽה		4 Under the guise of my love they are my accusers. But I, I am a prayer.
d tkt-ahbti iw'tnuni vani tpilh	16	tkt ahb\ti i/w'tn\vni v/ani t/pl\h
וַיָּ֘שִׂ֤ימוּ עָלַ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה וְ֝שִׂנְאָ֗ה תַּ֣חַת אַהֲבָתִֽי		5 And they set up evil for me under the guise of good, and hatred under the guise of my love.
h viwimu ylii ryh tkt 'tobh vwnah tkt ahbti	12 9	vi/wim\v yl\i ry\h tkt 'tvb\h v/wna\h tkt ahb\ti
הַפְקֵ֣ד עָלָ֣יו רָשָׁ֑ע וְ֝שָׂטָ֗ן יַעֲמֹ֥ד עַל־יְמִינֽוֹ		6 Make a criminal officiate over him, and let the accuser stand at his right hand.
v hpqd yliv rwy vw'tn iymod yl-imino	6 10	h/pqd yl\iv rwy v/w'tn i/ymd yl imn\v

May the collective conscience of humanity, through the international criminal court, realize the difference between good and evil, between life and death, and choose the good, for the sake of the oppressed and the victim, and the people impoverished by those who seek power. And may those who have been impoverished realize the extent of the lies that they have eaten without thinking.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 32:1

There's a rest, i.e. pause briefly, on the supertonic in bar 2, beat 1.

לְדָוִ֗ד מַ֫שְׂכִּ֥יל אַשְׁרֵ֥י נְֽשׂוּי־פֶּ֗שַׁע כְּס֣וּי חֲטָאָֽה		1 Of David, an insight. Happy transgression borne away, sin covered.
a ldvid mwcil awri nwui-pwy csui k'tah	5 11	l/dvd m/wcl awr\i nw\vi pwy cs\vi k'ta\h

 There are more beatitudes in the Psalms than in the New Testament. I count 25. See my calculations here. Are there as many in the NT? Happiness is a value for the poets of Israel. Let no one tell you otherwise. Corollary: if good news does not make you happy, or give you confidence, there is something wrong with the communication channel. Don't believe what is wrong.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 31:5

 

Who are they that bury the net? Who am I that gets tangled?

תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי		5 You will bring me out from the net that they have buried for me, for you are my strength.
h toxiani mrwt zu 'tmnu li ci-ath myuzi	11 5	tv/x\iani m/rwt zv 'tmn\v l\i ci ath m/yvz\i