Who may abide #Messiah texts Malachi 3:2 #Psalter

6. Air (Bass) – But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire.

Malachi 3:2

וּמִ֤י מְכַלְכֵּל֙ אֶת־י֣וֹם בּוֹא֔וֹ וּמִ֥י הָעֹמֵ֖ד בְּהֵרָֽאוֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוּא֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ מְצָרֵ֔ף וּכְבֹרִ֖ית מְכַבְּסִֽים		2 And who will abide the day of his coming? and who will stand at his appearing? for he is as a refining fire, [and as a scouring purifier].
b umi mclcl at-iom boao umi hyomd bhiraoto ci-hua caw mxrf ucborit mcbsim	19 12	v/mi mcl/cl at ivm bva\v v/mi h/ymd bh/ra\vtv ci hva c/aw m/xrp vc/br\it m/cbs\im

One of the principles behind reading the accent sequences in the Hebrew Bible is to note if a verse comes to a midpoint rest. For the latter prophets (Isaiah to Malachi), 7134 verses have a mid-verse rest. 371 verses have no mid-verse rest. All the verses that Handel uses have a mid-verse rest. [Neither he nor Jennens would likely have known anything about the accents of the Hebrew.] At such a rest, the heart rate relaxes and the one reciting should pause and consider what the content of the rest point is revealing. This is the 'desire of all nations'. Should we not enjoy the appearing? Perhaps we should not read this verse as if it were a threat. For surely someone will stand.

Consider Psalm 15.

מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד יְ֭הֹוָה מִי־יָג֣וּר בְּאָהֳלֶ֑ךָ מִֽי־יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן בְּהַ֣ר קָדְשֶֽׁךָ		1 A psalm of David. Yahweh who will guest in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy hill?
a mzmor ldvid ihvh mi-igur baohlç mi-iwcon bhr qodwç	5 10 8	m/zmr l/dvd ihvh mi i/gvr b/ahl\c mi i/wcn b/hr qdw\c
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ תָּ֭מִים וּפֹעֵ֥ל צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֥ר אֱ֝מֶ֗ת בִּלְבָבֽוֹ		2 One walking complete and working righteousness, and speaking truth in his heart.
b holç tmim upoyl xdq vdobr amt blbbo	9 8	hvlc tmm v/pyl xdq v/dbr amt b/lbb\v
לֹֽא־רָגַ֨ל ׀ עַל־לְשֹׁנ֗וֹ לֹא־עָשָׂ֣ה לְרֵעֵ֣הוּ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝חֶרְפָּ֗ה לֹא־נָשָׂ֥א עַל־קְרֹֽבוֹ		3 He does not slander with his tongue. He does not do evil to his friend, and a reproach he does not lift up over those near him.
g la-rgl yl-lwono la-ywh lriyhu ryh vkrph la-nwa yl-qrobo	14 9	la rgl yl lwn\v la ywh l/ryh\v ry\h v/krp\h la nwa yl qrb\v
נִבְזֶ֤ה ׀ בְּֽעֵ֘ינָ֤יו נִמְאָ֗ס וְאֶת־יִרְאֵ֣י יְהוָ֣ה יְכַבֵּ֑ד נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְ֝הָרַ֗ע וְלֹ֣א יָמִֽר		4 One despised in his eyes? It is refused. And those who fear Yahweh he glorifies. He swears in spite of injury and does not alter.
d nbzh byiniv nmas vat-irai ihvh icbd nwby lhry vla imir	16 9	n/bzh b/yin\iv n/mas v/at ira\i ihvh i/cbd n/wby lh/ry v/la i/mr
כַּסְפּ֤וֹ ׀ לֹא־נָתַ֣ן בְּנֶשֶׁךְ֮ וְשֹׁ֥חַד עַל־נָקִ֗י לֹ֥א לָ֫קָ֥ח עֹֽשֵׂה־אֵ֑לֶּה לֹ֖א יִמּ֣וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם		5 His money he does not give at interest, and a bribe over the innocent he does not take. Doing these things, he will not be moved forever.
h cspo la-ntn bnwç vwokd yl-nqi la lqk yowh-alh la iimo't lyolm	16 4 6	csp\v la ntn b/nwc v/wkd yl nq\i la lqk ywh alh la i/mv't l/yvlm

Here is the music for Psalm 15.