Psalm 149

Psalms 149: Syllables: 157; Longest recitation: 8; Tenor: B 24.20%;
Ornament density: 12.2%; Average phrase length: 9.2.

Verses 1 to 9 are all bi-cola with the mid-verse cadence on the subdominant. The last verse has no inner cadence. But there is a phrase division on the revia. There cannot be a rest that is pending (f#) nor a rest that is stable (A) for a verse on judgment.

Verse 1 opening on f# connects this psalm to the previous one. Following the opening two words, the new song melody imitates Psalm 96 exactly. Other uses of the phrase new song do not use the same motif, but the sequence B g B A occurs in 130 verses of the psalms.

Verses 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 all begin with the sequence e B B ^A along with 300 additional verses in the psalms. This initial sequence might seem an obvious beginning to a chant or a song, but the simplicity is not imitated anywhere in the prose books. Verses 6 and 7 begin with the sequence 'e B g ^A'. Again this clean unornamented sequence occurs only in the poetry, 170 of them in the psalms.

Three times in the first 8 verses, the return to the tonic begins with the revia mugrash on the subdominant. Twice it occurs on the supertonic and twice on the tonic. This is suspicious. The silluq on bni in verse 2 is in the Aleppo codex. The silluq on tockot in verse 7 is not. So verse 7 should be on the subdominant with a shape like verse 8.

Correcting verse 8 (The tenor of the song does not change)

Verse 9 sings the honour of judgment on the note of grief and appeal. Perhaps that is the tone of mercy.

1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Sing to Yahweh a new song. His praise in the congregation of the-many who are under mercy.
א ה֥ללו־י֨ה ש֣ירו לֽ֭יהוה ש֣יר חד֑ש ת֝הלת֗ו בקה֥ל חסידֽים	10 9		a hllu-ih wiru lihvh wir kdw thilto bqhl ksidim
2 Let Israel be glad in the one who made him. Let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
ב ישמ֣ח ישרא֣ל בעש֑יו בנֽי־צ֝י֗ון יג֥ילו במלכֽם	8 10		b iwmk iwral byowiv bni-xion igilu bmlcm
3 Let them praise his name in a dance. With drum and harp let them psalm him.
ג יהֽלל֣ו שמ֣ו במח֑ול בת֥ף ו֝כנ֗ור יזמרו־לֽו	8 9		g ihllu wmo bmkol btof vcinor izmru-lo
4 For Yahweh finds favour with his people. He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
ד כֽי־רוצ֣ה יהו֣ה בעמ֑ו יפא֥ר ע֝נו֗ים בישועֽה	8 9		d ci-roxh ihvh bymo ipar ynvvim biwuyh
5 Let the-many who are under mercy exult in glory. Let them shout aloud when they lie down.
ה יעלז֣ו חסיד֣ים בכב֑וד י֝רננ֗ו על־משכבותֽם	9 8		h iylzu ksidim bcbod irnnu yl-mwcbotm
6 Vocal in their celebrations of God, and handy with their multi-edged sword.
ו רוממ֣ות א֭ל בגרונ֑ם וח֖רב פֽיפי֣ות בידֽם	6 9		v rommot al bgronm vkrb pipiiot bidm
7 Making vengeance in the nations, corrections in the tribes.
ז לעש֣ות נ֭קמה בגוי֑ם תֽ֝וכח֗ת בלאמֽים	9 6		z lywot nqmh bgoiim tockot blaumim
8 To bind their sovereigns in chains, and these glorious ones with iron fetters.
ח לאס֣ר מלכיה֣ם בזק֑ים ו֝נכבדיה֗ם בכבל֥י ברזֽל	8 10		k lasor mlcihm bziqim vncbdihm bcbli brzl
9 To make in them judgment inscribed. This honour to all under his mercy. Hallelu Yah.
ט לעש֤ות בה֨ם משפ֬ט כת֗וב הד֣ר ה֭וא לכל־חסיד֗יו הֽללו־יֽה	20		T lywot bhm mwpT ctub hdr hua lcl-ksidiv hllu-ih

The music in these posts is derived from the accents in the Hebrew Bible. Introductions - letters, music, text and music, and terminology, are here.