Exaltation and Abasement #Messiah texts Isaiah 40:4

Isaiah 40:4

3. Air (Tenor) – Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low: the crooked straight and the rough places plain.

כָּל־גֶּיא֙ יִנָּשֵׂ֔א וְכָל־הַ֥ר וְגִבְעָ֖ה יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ וְהָיָ֤ה הֶֽעָקֹב֙ לְמִישׁ֔וֹר וְהָרְכָסִ֖ים לְבִקְעָֽה		4 Every gorge will be lifted up, and every hill and hillock will be abased, and will be the footstep for the level place and the cliques for the crevasse.
d cl-gia iinwa vcl-hr vgbyh iwplu vhih hyqob lmiwor vhrcsim lbqyh	14 16	cl gia i/nwa v/cl hr v/gby\h i/wpl\v v/hih h/yqb lm/iwr vh/rcs\im l/bqy\h

I did not use valley (ymq) to avoid what I consider a problem, having a single English gloss being used for different Hebrew roots. This was a rule I applied when I was translating except where it was impossible - such as verbs like hlc, (walk, come, go, etc)   bva (come, go, enter, bring, etc) and prepositions and other small particles of language. This root ymq for valley does have multiple glosses in my translation though, and it is used metaphorically in the text. (See the usage at the link). Gorge, on the other hand, though in the same domain as valley, is gia. And exalted (rvm) is not the same as nwa lifted up.

When it comes to the constructed parallel -- cliques in the crevasse (eh, what did you say?), the stem rcs is of dubious meaning. As you can see from the link, it is used twice in the building of the tabernacle, and uniquely here and in Psalm 31:20(21). Wouldn't it be nice if we spoke ancient Hebrew fluently - then we wouldn't need any translation. How much of translation is forgettable guesswork. (Rather more than you might think).

In this verse the music of the second half is similar in shape to the music of the first. This is relatively rare: 25 verses in total and 10 that begin with the shape of the first bar above. These 10 are: Joshua 7:11, 1 Samuel 25:24, 2 Samuel 4:4, Isaiah 40:4, Jeremiah 9:15, 30:15, 32:9. Ezekiel 27:6, 32:13, and 2 Chronicles 29:22. I wonder if there is a thread here.

Randomly heard Scripture

 This morning Netherlands Bach Society did the cantata Es Ist dir gesagt. Hardly Old Testament strictness as they said - but really New Testament strictness.

Micah 6:8

הִגִּ֥יד לְךָ֛ אָדָ֖ם מַה־טּ֑וֹב וּמָֽה־יְהוָ֞ה דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ מִמְּךָ֗ כִּ֣י אִם־עֲשׂ֤וֹת מִשְׁפָּט֙ וְאַ֣הֲבַת חֶ֔סֶד וְהַצְנֵ֥עַ לֶ֖כֶת עִם־אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ פ		8 He has made it clear to you, humanity, what is good, and what Yahweh is searching for from you, in contrast: to do judgment, and to love mercy, and modestly to walk with your God.
k hgid lç adm mh-'tob umh-ihvh dorw mmç ci am-ywot mwp't vahbt ksd vhxny lct ym-alohiç p	8 32	h/gd l\c adm mh 'tvb v/mh ihvh dvrw m/m\c ci am yw\vt m/wp't v/ahb\t ksd vh/xny lc\t ym alh\ic

Comfort - #Messiah texts #Psalter Isaiah 40:1-2, 3

We begin after the Sinfonia – (Instrumental) with an Accompagnato (a recitative with orchestral accompaniment) for Tenor.

2. Accompagnato (Tenor) – Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. These are the opening words of Messiah. The verb is imperative, second person plural. The archaic comfort ye fits well for rhythm and sense. Perhaps we should bring thou and ye back into regular usage. This is not under my control -- but it would clarify singular and plural throughout my translation -- and guarantee that I look at the whole thing again.

Isaiah 40:1-2

All my automated transcriptions of the music for the cantillation are based on Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura's inferred deciphering key of the te'amim, those little jots and tittles that aren't vowels above and below the Hebrew consonantal text of manuscripts since the Aleppo Codex.

In each of these posts, I will examine what happens to the snippets / sound bites chosen for Handel's libretto when I compare them to my rigidly concordant translation? It's not, by the way, that translation needs precise accuracy. That's not the way that God or language works! I am convinced that the Most High can speak even through the distorted lens of the King James rendering, and even through my own errors and distortions. Convincing myself (or others)  through accuracy or logic is not possible. The affective impact of language is an internal mysterious human and presumably divine process the effect of which is not at all subject to my or the king's control.

נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם		1 Comfort [ye], comfort [ye], my people, says your [plural] God.
a nkmu nkmu ymi iamr alohicm	8 6	nkm\v nkm\v ym\i i/amr alh\icm
דַּבְּר֞וּ עַל־לֵ֤ב יְרֽוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ וְקִרְא֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֤י מָֽלְאָה֙ צְבָאָ֔הּ כִּ֥י נִרְצָ֖ה עֲוֺנָ֑הּ כִּ֤י לָקְחָה֙ מִיַּ֣ד יְהוָ֔ה כִּפְלַ֖יִם בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתֶֽיהָ ס		2 Speak [ye] to the heart of Jerusalem and call [ye] to her, for fulfilled is her pressed service, for accepted is her iniquity, for she has received from the hand of Yahweh double in all her sins.
b dbru yl-lb iruwlim vqrau alih ci mlah xbah ci nrxh yvonh ci lqkh mid ihvh cpliim bcl-k'taotih s	26 16	dbr\v yl lb irvwlm v/qra\v al\ih ci mla\h xba\h ci n/rxh yvn\h ci lqk\h m/id ihvh cpl\im b/cl k'ta\tih

Verse 1. The first thing I notice is that the emphasis is all on the second person plural: The archaic ye gets the rhythm right. Handel's music, as does English, tends to emphasize the action rather than the one(s) who are acting. But the 'you' and 'your' and 'my' in the Hebrew are all accented syllables on the strong beat of 4 of the first few bars (1 to 6 below). Who is this second person plural? Is it the same body as 'my people'? Then it would be the people who must comfort / sigh / regret / console / show pity for themselves? Or is it another set of persons -- a call to all nations spoken by their God also?

Verse 2. The traditional English has repeated a form of comfort (speak ye comfortably), where the Hebrew uses the word heart, clearly metaphorically, i.e. in the same way that English uses heart. 'My people' is addressed as feminine Jerusalem. Verse 2 continues the action of comfort with the imperative speak again with an emphatically ornamented 'ye'. 

The traditional translation is warfare. I have used pressed service. This is the same root as hosts as in Lord of Hosts. War is lkm rather than xba. Given the nature of language, warfare works fine and it is a gloss I haven't used so I could use it within my rules. But the word derivation from host speaks of mobilization and conscription. Is the iniquity a result of rebellion against conscription?

I have not used the gloss accomplished in relationship to this word mla, fill, fulfill. For me, this is too close in sense to completed (tmm), a word I consider has more connotations than I would attribute to iniquity. 

Iniquity accepted (rxh) is a strange gloss in this context. Pardon and forgive (slk) I use for a differing Hebrew roots so I kept the shock (to English ears) of accepted. The theological question is whether God will accept sin in a sacrifice. (You may want to keep this in mind.)

ק֣וֹל קוֹרֵ֔א בַּמִּדְבָּ֕ר פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהוָ֑ה יַשְּׁרוּ֙ בָּעֲרָבָ֔ה מְסִלָּ֖ה לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ		3 ♪B The voice of one calling in the wilderness, Face the way of Yahweh. Make a level place in the steppe, a highway for our God.
g qol qora bmdbr pnu drç ihvh iwru byrbh msilh lalohinu	12 13	qvl qvra b/mdbr pn\v drc ihvh iwr\v b/yrb\h m/sl\h l/alh\inv

Isaiah 40:3

Verse 3. Handel changes style abruptly and separates verses 2 and 3 whereas the Hebrew music connects them. (A starting recitation note that is not the implied tonic, such as the opening B here, connects a verse to what has gone before.)

It might seem that facing pnh (traditional gloss preparing - see cvn) the way of the Lord is work, but the words lead to a recitation on the subdominant, a point of rest in the phrasing for any verse that reaches this note. So given the connection, who is the voice in the wilderness? Whoever speaks, whoever comforts, is not necessarily guaranteed a response even though the content of the call is good news. Perhaps the one who comforts is sighing over Jerusalem.

You can see from the links under the three letter roots that there is a full concordance to my translation available online. At least this makes my work transparent. You will see that I allow multiple English words for some Hebrew roots, but to every extent possible, I have rejected mapping multiple Hebrew roots to the same English gloss.

In a word, I do not search for meaning but for sound and pattern. We all make our own meanings -- and often with mean intent -- a leveling of the valley that is not level at all. The word level, by the way in the opening of Messiah is iwr, a word with a primary gloss of upright.

Much is to be learned from the Psalms. Here is iwr in its primary sense. Note too in this psalm the use of pnh, face.

יְהוָ֤ה ׀ נְחֵ֬נִי בְצִדְקָתֶ֗ךָ לְמַ֥עַן שׁוֹרְרָ֑י הַיְשַׁ֖ר לְפָנַ֣י דַּרְכֶּֽךָ		9 Yahweh, guide me in your righteousness on account of my watchers. Upright to my face be your way.
't ihvh nkni bxdqtç lmyn worrii hiwr lpnii drcç	15 8	ihvh nk\ni b/xdq\tc lmyn wvrr\i h/iwr l/pn\i drc\c

The music for this verse is unique.

Psalm 5:9 set in a major mode for a change.

A series on the texts of #Messiah #Psalter

I have always wanted to examine the texts used for Handel's Messiah in part to deal with my assumptions about them. My history with Messiah goes back well over 50 years. I have sung it as chorister I don't know how many times, or in how many places. I have also sung it as the tenor soloist. 

My theological relationship to the texts used to be one of proof-texting -- using texts to prove what I had been taught and what I was told to think was the truth. I don’t think I thought enough.

There is an essay by Daniel Block on the texts of Messiah here. He writes: "By Handel’s own testimony, the text for the oratorio was compiled by the wealthy and arrogant Leicestershire country gentleman, Charles Jennens." Arrogant is a word that would describe my proof-texting. Arrogant is not a characteristic that would describe Messiah.

I will start with a text that is not in those that Handel used. Isaiah 42:3. Whatever the character of a human is, arrogance is not a property I would expect of Messiah. It's ironic that this is the first thought I have about these texts.

קָנֶ֤ה רָצוּץ֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁבּ֔וֹר וּפִשְׁתָּ֥ה כֵהָ֖ה לֹ֣א יְכַבֶּ֑נָּה לֶאֱמֶ֖ת יוֹצִ֥יא מִשְׁפָּֽט		3 A damaged purchase he will not break, and dim flax he will not quench. To truth he will bring forth judgment.
g qnh rxux la iwbor upwth chh la icbnh lamt ioxia mwp't	17 7	qnh rxx la i/wbr v/pwt\h chh la i/cb\nh l/amt iv/x\ia m/wp't

The traditional text does not use purchase, but reed. I'm always going to have trouble with translation. I did my translation with minimal overlap of English words to multiple Hebrew stems. That means first of all that I cannot base my theology on sentiment. (Just because I like the familiar English words.) Nonetheless, even though I suspect that Messiah is not prone to consumerism, this verse suggests that Messiah is careful not to destroy a fragile or disabled life. And this has something to do with truth and judgment.

No wonder people love Messiah - not just for the sake of their arrogance. Here's the music for the above verse.

A characteristic of the servant.

As one of the servant songs, I wonder why Jennens did not choose this verse? He did chose several verses from this area of Isaiah and many verses from the psalms. That is another reason I think I should pursue these texts of my past to see if my reading of the psalms has led me to any truth or wise judgment.

Let us not be arrogant and therefore not force the earlier prejudices of our thoughts onto our thoughts today. Let us hope that the text will have its voice untrammeled by the stubbornness of our ears.

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־גָבַ֣הּ לִ֭בִּי וְלֹא־רָמ֣וּ עֵינַ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִלַּ֓כְתִּי ׀ בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת מִמֶּֽנִּי		1 ♪f A song of the ascents, Of David. Yahweh not haughty is my heart nor exalted my eyes, nor do I walk in great things or in wonders beyond me.
a wir hmylot ldvid ihvh la-gbh libi vla-rmu yinii vla-hilcti bgdolot ubnplaot mmni	8 11 14	wir hm/yl\vt l/dvd ihvh la gbh lb\i v/la rm\v yin\i v/la hlc\ti b/gdl\vt vbn/pla\vt m/mn\i

I wander in as many wonders as I can. And I must continue to realize that I cannot be certain of complete knowledge of anything. Even this music that I plug! But I do consider it a special gift to learning and hearing.

Keep calm and carry on with discretion and courage

Psalms 17:8 #Psalmtweet

An interim finale... 

Psalms 17:8

Twitter is still there, but its name has been destroyed. I keep posting out of habit. This then is the last day of the 150 Psalm tweets - and since we haven't reached that ultimate rest of the final doxology, I repeat a prayer that my wife noted to me a few days ago.

This is plural in the compline service. Keep us as the apple of an eye. Hide us under the shadow of thy wings. Note that this verse is connected to the prior verse -- so the music indicates per my thesis -- I have yet to find a counter example. (Though sometimes, it depends perhaps on whether the verse begins with an upbeat or not. -- But it is not impossible that the music co-existed with the text from the beginning -- i.e. that the poet was a musician also.)

But in deference for you, non-musician, read the rest of the psalm and note how full of trouble it is. The more things change the more they stay the same. (Full score is here. No performance is available. Who will sing it for us?)

תְּפִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד שִׁמְעָ֤ה יְהוָ֨ה ׀ צֶ֗דֶק הַקְשִׁ֥יבָה רִנָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה תְפִלָּתִ֑י בְּ֝לֹ֗א שִׂפְתֵ֥י מִרְמָֽה		1 A prayer of David. Hear Yahweh righteousness. Attend to my shout. Give ear to my prayer, not from lips of deceit.
a tpilh ldvid wmyh ihvh xdq hqwibh rinti hazinh tpilti bla wpti mrmh	6 20 6	t/pl\h l/dvd wmy\h ihvh xdq h/qwb\h rn\ti h/azn\h t/pl\ti bl\a wp\ti m/rmh
מִ֭לְּפָנֶיךָ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י יֵצֵ֑א עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ תֶּחֱזֶ֥ינָה מֵישָׁרִֽים		2 ♪g From your presence emerges my judgment. Your eyes gaze on uprightness.
b mlpniç mwp'ti iixa yiniç tkzinh miwrim	9 10	ml/pn\ic m/wp't\i ixa yin\ic t/kz\inh m/iwr\im
בָּ֘חַ֤נְתָּ לִבִּ֨י ׀ פָּ֘קַ֤דְתָּ לַּ֗יְלָה צְרַפְתַּ֥נִי בַל־תִּמְצָ֑א זַ֝מֹּתִ֗י בַּל־יַעֲבָר־פִּֽי		3 ♪~ You have tested my heart. You have visited in the night. You have refined me till nothing is found. I intend that my mouth will not go beyond...
g bknt libi pqdt lilh xrptni bl-tmxa zmoti bl-iybor-pi	17 8	bkn\t lb\i pqd\t lil\h xrp\tni bl t/mxa zm\ti bl i/ybr p\i
לִפְעֻלּ֣וֹת אָ֭דָם בִּדְבַ֣ר שְׂפָתֶ֑יךָ אֲנִ֥י שָׁ֝מַ֗רְתִּי אָרְח֥וֹת פָּרִֽיץ		4 About the works of humanity, in the word of your lips, I myself kept from the paths of one who breaks open.
d lpyulot adm bdbr wptiç ani wmrti aorkot prix	11 9	l/pyl\vt adm b/dbr wp\tic ani wmr\ti ark\vt prx
תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־נָמ֥וֹטּוּ פְעָמָֽי		5 Maintain my steps in your tracks. My footfall does not slip.
h tmoç awurii bmyglotiç bl-nmo'tu pymii	11 7	tmc awr\i bm/ygl\vtic bl n/mv't\v pym\i
אֲנִֽי־קְרָאתִ֣יךָ כִֽי־תַעֲנֵ֣נִי אֵ֑ל הַֽט־אָזְנְךָ֥ לִ֝֗י שְׁמַ֣ע אִמְרָתִֽי		6 I myself have called you because you answer, O God. Bend your ear to me, hear my promise.
v ani-qratiç ci-tynni al h't-aoznç li wmy amrti	11 10	ani qra\tic ci t/yn\ni al h/'t azn\c l\i wmy amr\ti
הַפְלֵ֣ה חֲ֭סָדֶיךָ מוֹשִׁ֣יעַ חוֹסִ֑ים מִ֝מִּתְקוֹמְמִ֗ים בִּֽימִינֶֽךָ		7 Reserve your kindness, you who save those who take refuge, from those who arise by your right hand.
z hplh ksdiç mowiy kosim mmtqommim biminç	11 8	h/plh ksd\ic mv/wy kvs\im mmt/qvm\mim b/imn\c
שָׁ֭מְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁ֣וֹן בַּת־עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי		8 ♪g Keep me as the daughter pictured in an eye. In the shadow of your wings, hide me,
k womrni caiwon bt-yin bxl cnpiç tstirni	9 10	wmr\ni c/aiwvn bt yin b/xl cnp\ic t/str\ni
מִפְּנֵ֣י רְ֭שָׁעִים ז֣וּ שַׁדּ֑וּנִי אֹיְבַ֥י בְּ֝נֶ֗פֶשׁ יַקִּ֥יפוּ עָלָֽי		9 from the faces of the wicked that devastate me, hostile in being encompassing me.
't mpni rwyim zu wduni aoibii bnpw iqipu ylii	9 10	m/pn\i rwy\im zv wd\vni aib\i b/npw i/qp\v yl\i
חֶלְבָּ֥מוֹ סָּגְר֑וּ פִּ֝֗ימוֹ דִּבְּר֥וּ בְגֵאֽוּת		10 Their grossness, they imprison. Their mouth, they speak with pride.
i klbmo sgru pimo dibru bgaut	5 7	klb\mv sgr\v p\imv dbr\v b/ga\vt
אַ֭שֻּׁרֵינוּ עַתָּ֣ה סְבָב֑וּנוּ עֵינֵיהֶ֥ם יָ֝שִׁ֗יתוּ לִנְט֥וֹת בָּאָֽרֶץ		11 ♪g Our steps now, they surround us. They have their eyes set, bending over the earth.
ia awurinu yth sbbunu yinihm iwitu ln'tot barx	10 11	awr\inv yth sbb\vni yin\ihm i/wit\v l/n't\vt b/arx
דִּמְיֹנ֗וֹ כְּ֭אַרְיֵה יִכְס֣וֹף לִטְר֑וֹף וְ֝כִכְפִ֗יר יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּמִסְתָּרִֽים		12 Its likeness is like a lion that salivates to tear, and like a cub sitting in hidden places.
ib dmiono carih icsof l'trof vccpir iowb bmstrim	10 9	dm\inv c/ari\h i/csp l/'trp vc/cpr iwb bm/str\im
קוּמָ֤ה יְהוָ֗ה קַדְּמָ֣ה פָ֭נָיו הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ פַּלְּטָ֥ה נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י מֵרָשָׁ֥ע חַרְבֶּֽךָ		13 Arise Yahweh, confront to its face. Make it bow down. Secure me from the wicked, your sword,
ig qumh ihvh qdmh pniv hcriyhu pl'th npwi mrwy krbç	12 10	qvm\h ihvh qdm\h pn\iv h/cry\hv pl't\h npw\i m/rwy krb\c
מִֽמְתִ֥ים יָדְךָ֨ ׀ יְהוָ֡ה מִֽמְתִ֬ים מֵחֶ֗לֶד חֶלְקָ֥ם בַּֽחַיִּים֮ וּֽצְפוּנְךָ֮ תְּמַלֵּ֪א בִ֫טְנָ֥ם יִשְׂבְּע֥וּ בָנִ֑ים וְהִנִּ֥יחוּ יִ֝תְרָ֗ם לְעוֹלְלֵיהֶֽם		14 from men, your hand, Yahweh, from men, from transience, their share in their lives, whose bellies you fill with your treasure. Let them be satisfied with children, and leave their surplus to their progeny.
id mmtim idç ihvh mmtim mkld klqm bkiim uxpunç tmla b'tnm iwbyu bnim vhniku itrm lyollihm	24 5 10	m/mt\im id\c ihvh m/mt\im m/kld klq\m b/ki\im v/xpvn\c t/mla b'tn\m i/wby\v bn\im vh/n\ikv itr\m l/yvll\ihm
אֲנִ֗י בְּ֭צֶדֶק אֶחֱזֶ֣ה פָנֶ֑יךָ אֶשְׂבְּעָ֥ה בְ֝הָקִ֗יץ תְּמוּנָתֶֽךָ		15 I in righteousness will gaze on your face. I will be satisfied to awaken in your similitude.
'tv ani bxdq akzh pniç awbyh bhqix tmuntç	11 11	ani b/xdq a/kzh pn\ic a/wby\h bh/qx tmvn\tc

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 150:6

 Ponder how things might change.

breath-bearing, נשׁם (nshm), panting, used of a woman in childbirth (also Psalm 18:16, where the breath-bearing is used of God again implying a birthing process).

כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ		6 ♪B All the breath-bearing praise Yah. Hallelu Yah.
v col hnwmh thll ih hllu-ih	11	cl h/nwm\h t/hll ih hll\v ih

Performance here. (General access should be available here.)

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 149:1

 

Remember that new song?

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ שִׁ֣ירוּ לַֽ֭יהוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל חֲסִידִֽים		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Sing to Yahweh a new song. His praise in the congregation of the-many who are under mercy.
a hllu-ih wiru lihvh wir kdw thilto bqhl ksidim	10 9	hll\v ih wir\v l/ihvh wir kdw t/hl\tv b/qhl ksid\im

the-many who are under mercy - ksidim - or more commonly in non-reversible transcriptions, Hasidim. But this is not the movement that originated in the 18th century CE and that has retrenched in reaction to modernity. Is it mystical? The word is from ksd kindness, KJV loving-kindness (a verbal overreach). I have used kindness and mercy as my glosses leading me to long-winded phrases at times. Is it as Elie Wiesel says, "difficult to be a mystic these days"? Yet in a later chapter he writes that "Hasidism teaches how to build on ruins".

This root ksd is used of Ruth and her character - she is kind in all her actions. She is also determined and strong. These are aspects of ksd (חסד). The purpose of the Psalms is to create such persons in community of reliable character and witness. Just look at how often (click the link to my concordance above) it and its related word ksh (refuge) are used in the Psalter.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 148:1

 

Praise from the heights

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Praise Yahweh from the heavens. Praise him on the high ground.
a hllu-ih hllu at-ihvh mn-hwmiim hlluhu bmromim	12 6	hll\v ih hll\v at ihvh mn h/wmim hll\vhv bm/rvm\im

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 147:1

 

Praise is lovely

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ כִּי־ט֭וֹב זַמְּרָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־נָ֝עִים נָאוָ֥ה תְהִלָּֽה		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah, for it is good to sing a psalm to our God, for it is pleasant. Praise is lovely.
a hllu-ih ci-'tob zmrh alohinu ci-nyim navh thilh	11 7	hll\v ih ci 'tvb zmr\h alh\inv ci nym navh t/hl\h

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 146:1

 The beginning of the final doxology - five psalms of praise.

Individual praise

הַֽלְלוּ־יָ֡הּ הַלְלִ֥י נַ֝פְשִׁ֗י אֶת־יְהוָֽה		1 Hallelu Yah. Praise Yahweh, O my being.
a hllu-ih hlli npwi at-ihvh	10	hll\v ih hll\i npw\i at ihvh

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 145

 

The final acrostic - a praise of David

תְּהִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ אֱלוֹהַ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַאֲבָרֲכָ֥ה שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד		1 A praise of David. I will exalt you my God the king, and I will bless your name forever and ever.
a thilh ldvid arommç alohii hmlç vabrch wmç lyolm vyd	6 10 12	t/hl\h l/dvd a/rvm\mc alvh\i h/mlc va/brc\h wm\c l/yvlm v/yd

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 144:3

Remember Psalm 8?

יְֽהוָ֗ה מָה־אָ֭דָם וַתֵּדָעֵ֑הוּ בֶּן־אֱ֝נ֗וֹשׁ וַֽתְּחַשְּׁבֵֽהוּ		3 Yahweh, what is this humanity that you know it, a mortal child that you devised it?
g ihvh mh-adm vtdyhu bn-anow vtkwbhu	10 7	ihvh mh adm vt/dy\hv bn anvw vt/kwb\hv

Nearing the end of the #Psalmtweet series

I find it ironic that I am using the tag Psalmtweet when the tweet concept has been undermined by an owner that dictates software interfaces from the top down. I didn't use Twitter till recently except by automated posting. I never really logged on until the Ukraine war started and then I followed a number of news sources that are still active.

Having recently heard a very fine performance in the baroque style of Messiah, I have decided to begin a series on the texts of Messiah. I have drafted a few and will begin the series when the psalms are done at the end of this month. I think there is a lot to say on the music, the translations, and the changes of voice in the text of the libretto. But much is online already so I am somewhat mute in my analysis, but I will continue to see how my translation makes life difficult for a German-English musician and how the music implicit in the Bible differs from the elaborate music that is freely invented.

A tentative suggestion is that the music underlying the text of the Bible is designed not to glorify the words arbitrarily as of course Handel was wonderfully prepared to do, but simply to restore the tone of voice and inter-verse connections to an otherwise potentially misleading written text. There's nothing magical here, just a way of focusing the interpretation.

It's curious to me that most of the texts of Messiah are direct or slightly altered from Isaiah and the Psalms. I'm not sure what I will discover, but I will start. Perhaps I will be less muted as the series begins.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 143:1

 

A prayer of David - a tricolon with an interesting and unique shape

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ שְׁמַ֬ע תְּפִלָּתִ֗י הַאֲזִ֥ינָה אֶל־תַּחֲנוּנַ֑י בֶּאֱמֻנָתְךָ֥ עֲ֝נֵ֗נִי בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ		1 A psalm of David. Yahweh hear my prayer. Give ear to my supplication. In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness.
a mzmor ldvid ihvh wmy tpilti hazinh al-tknunii bamuntç ynni bxdqtç	5 17 13	m/zmr l/dvd ihvh wmy t/pl\ti h/azn\h al t/knvn\i b/amn\tc yn\ni b/xdq\tc

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 142:2

 

An insight -- and a prayer. Of David.

ק֭וֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֝וֹלִ֗י אֶל־יְהוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן		2 ♪g My voice to Yahweh I will appeal. My voice to Yahweh I will supplicate.
b qoli al-ihvh azyq qoli al-ihvh atknn	7 8	qvl\i al ihvh a/zyq qvl\i al ihvh at/knn

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 141:3

 

A wise prayer

שִׁיתָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה שָׁמְרָ֣ה לְפִ֑י נִ֝צְּרָ֗ה עַל־דַּ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽי		3 Set, Yahweh, a guard on my mouth. Preserve the gateway of my lips.
g with ihvh womrh lpi nixrh yl-dl wptii	8 7	wit\h ihvh wmr\h l/p\i nxr\h yl dl wp\ti

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 140:2

 

May the anointed today have such a prayer answered

חַלְּצֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה מֵאָדָ֣ם רָ֑ע מֵאִ֖ישׁ חֲמָסִ֣ים תִּנְצְרֵֽנִי		2 Rescue me Yahweh from human evil, from violent persons preserve me,
b klxni ihvh madm ry maiw kmsim tnxrni	9 9	klx\ni ihvh m/adm ry m/aiw kms\im t/nxr\ni

Note the word kms - in Hebrew חמס Hamas. A coincidence?

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 139:14

 

Yahweh you have examined me and you know.

אֽוֹדְךָ֗ עַ֤ל כִּ֥י נוֹרָא֗וֹת נִ֫פְלֵ֥יתִי נִפְלָאִ֥ים מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י יֹדַ֥עַת מְאֹֽד		14 I will thank you for fearfully I am reserved. Wonderful your deeds, as my self knows in full.
id aodç yl ci noraot npliti nplaim mywiç vnpwi iodyt maod	10 7 8	av/d\c yl ci nv/ra\vt n/pl\iti n/pla\im m/yw\ic v/npw\i idy\t mad

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 138:2

 

אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֨ה אֶל־הֵיכַ֪ל קָדְשְׁךָ֡ וְא֘וֹדֶ֤ה אֶת־שְׁמֶ֗ךָ עַל־חַסְדְּךָ֥ וְעַל־אֲמִתֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־הִגְדַּ֥לְתָּ עַל־כָּל־שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ אִמְרָתֶֽךָ		2 I will worship in your holy temple and give thanks to your name over your kindness, and over your truth, for you magnify your promise over all your name.
b awtkvvh al-hicl qodwç vaodh at-wmç yl-ksdç vyl-amitç ci-hgdlt yl-cl-wmç amrtç	27 12	a/wk\vh al hicl qdw\c vav/dh at wm\c yl ksd\c v/yl amt\c ci h/gdl\t yl cl wm\c amr\tc

Now here's a throwback from 15 years ago when I was just starting out to translate and this psalm was the subject of one of many diagrams I drew to learn Hebrew.

From 2008 - just looking around - no knowledge of the music till Oxford 2010.

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 137:1

 

A lecture by Susan Gillingham not to be missed at this link from 2021

עַ֥ל נַהֲר֨וֹת ׀ בָּבֶ֗ל שָׁ֣ם יָ֭שַׁבְנוּ גַּם־בָּכִ֑ינוּ בְּ֝זָכְרֵ֗נוּ אֶת־צִיּֽוֹן		1 ♪f By the rivers of Babel - there we sat, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion.
a yl nhrot bbl wm iwbnu gm-bcinu bzocrnu at-xion	14 7	yl nhr\vt bbl wm iwb\nv gm bc\inv b/zcr\nv at xivn

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 136:5

 Give thanks to Yahweh ...

No conflict with science here - plenty of responsibility required though.
No one could operate in an inconsistent creation.

לְעֹשֵׂ֣ה הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ		5 For making the heavens with understanding, because forever is his kindness.
h lyowh hwmiim btbunh ci lyolm ksdo	9 6	l/ywh h/wmim bt/bvn\h ci l/yvlm ksd\v

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 135:1

 

Praise servants

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽ֭לְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֑ה הַֽ֝לְלוּ עַבְדֵ֥י יְהוָֽה		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Praise the name of Yahweh. Praise O servants of Yahweh,
a hllu-ih hllu at-wm ihvh hllu ybdi ihvh	9 6	hll\v ih hll\v at wm ihvh hll\v ybd\i ihvh

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 134:1

The last of the 15 songs of the ascents

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ בָּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־עַבְדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הָעֹמְדִ֥ים בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה בַּלֵּילֽוֹת		1 ♪~ A song of the ascents. Here! bless Yahweh, all servants of Yahweh, those standing in the house of Yahweh in the nights.
a wir hmylot hnh brcu at-ihvh cl-ybdi ihvh hyomdim bbit-ihvh blilot	5 13 10	wir hm/yl\vt hnh brc\v at ihvh cl ybd\i ihvh h/ymd\im b/bit ihvh b/lil\vt

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 133:1

 

like the precious oil ...

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד		1 ♪f A song of the ascents, of David. Here! How fine and how pleasant it is, for kin to sit as one.
a wir hmylot ldvid hnh mh-'tob umh-nyim wbt akim gm-ikd	8 8 7	wir hm/yl\vt l/dvd hnh mh 'tvb v/mh nym wb\t ak\im gm ikd

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 132:1

 

Poems of David are present in every book of the Psalms

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת זְכוֹר־יְהוָ֥ה לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֝ת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ		1 ♪~ A song of the ascents. Yahweh, remember David, with all his afflictions.
a wir hmylot zcor-ihvh ldvid at cl-yunoto	5 7 5	wir hm/yl\vt zcr ihvh l/dvd at cl yn\vtv

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 131:1-2

 

Not an excuse for ignorance

but an excuse for faithfulness

שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְהוָ֤ה ׀ לֹא־גָבַ֣הּ לִ֭בִּי וְלֹא־רָמ֣וּ עֵינַ֑י וְלֹֽא־הִלַּ֓כְתִּי ׀ בִּגְדֹל֖וֹת וּבְנִפְלָא֣וֹת מִמֶּֽנִּי		1 ♪f A song of the ascents, Of David. Yahweh not haughty is my heart nor exalted my eyes, nor do I walk in great things or in wonders beyond me.
a wir hmylot ldvid ihvh la-gbh libi vla-rmu yinii vla-hilcti bgdolot ubnplaot mmni	8 11 14	wir hm/yl\vt l/dvd ihvh la gbh lb\i v/la rm\v yin\i v/la hlc\ti b/gdl\vt vbn/pla\vt m/mn\i
אִם־לֹ֤א שִׁוִּ֨יתִי ׀ וְדוֹמַ֗מְתִּי נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י כְּ֭גָמֻל עֲלֵ֣י אִמּ֑וֹ כַּגָּמֻ֖ל עָלַ֣י נַפְשִֽׁי		2 If I had not agreed and muted my being, as a nursing child on its mother, as a nursing child - my being.
b am-la wivviti vdommti npwi cgmul yli aimo cgmul ylii npwi	11 7 7	am la wv\iti v/dvm\mti npw\i c/gml yl\i am\v c/gml yl\i npw\i

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 130:3

 

De profundis

אִם־עֲוֺנ֥וֹת תִּשְׁמָר־יָ֑הּ אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י מִ֣י יַעֲמֹֽד		3 If you watch iniquities, Yah, My Lord who will stand.
g am-yvonot twmor-ih adonii mi iymod	7 7	am yvn\vt t/wmr ih adn\i mi i/ymd

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 129:4

 

32 verses share this musical phrase

יְהוָ֥ה צַדִּ֑יק קִ֝צֵּ֗ץ עֲב֣וֹת רְשָׁעִֽים		4 Righteous Yahweh, has sundered the cords of the wicked.
d ihvh xdiq qixx ybot rwyim	4 7	ihvh xdiq qxx ybvt rwy\im

#Psalmtweet #Psalter 128:1

 

Psalms 120, 123 and 128 share this musical phrase to begin the psalm

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אַ֭שְׁרֵי כָּל־יְרֵ֣א יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝הֹלֵ֗ךְ בִּדְרָכָֽיו		1 ♪~ A song of the ascents. Happy all who fear Yahweh, who walk in his ways.
a wir hmylot awri cl-ira ihvh hholç bdrciv	5 7 6	wir hm/yl\vt awr\i cl ira ihvh h/hlc b/drc\iv