Psalm 116

Psalms 116: Syllables: 302; Longest recitation: 12; Tenor: A 22.85%;
Ornament density: 8.6%; Average phrase length: 7.7.

Psalms 114 to 116 are all connected by the first note. Given the importance of Psalm 114 (In exitu Israel), and the corporate realization of 115 (Non nobis Domine) about 114, this individual aria, 116 Dilexi, completes the series. You will find I set a few verses of this for a soloist with verse 5 as a chorus. Listen to the sixth day of Unleashing Leviathan.

Note the first verse. The Latin has the right idea. (Dilexi, quoniam exaudiet Dominus vocem orationis meæ.) Th psalm opens on the third note of the scale with א֭הבתי ahbti - just plain I love. The verb has no direct object in the Hebrew.

1 ♪g I love, for Yahweh heard, the voice of my supplication. (g-1-4-1)
א א֭הבתי כֽי־ישמ֥ע יהו֑ה את־ק֝ול֗י תחנונֽי	8 7		a ahbti ci-iwmy ihvh at-qoli tknunii
2 For he bent his ear to me, and in my days I will call. (1-4-1)
ב כֽי־הט֣ה אזנ֣ו ל֑י ובימ֥י אקרֽא	6 5		b ci-hTh aozno li ubimii aqra
3 The pangs of death enveloped me and anguish of Sheol found me. Trouble and sadness I find. (1-4-1)
ג אפפ֤וני חבלי־מ֗ות ומצר֣י שא֣ול מצא֑וני צר֖ה ויג֣ון אמצֽא	16 7		g appuni kbli-mvvt umxri waol mxauni xrh vigon amxa
4 So in the name of Yahweh I will call, beseeching, Yahweh, make an escape for my being. (1-4-1)
ד ובשֽם־יהו֥ה אקר֑א אנ֥ה י֝הו֗ה מלט֥ה נפשֽי	6 8		d ubwm-ihvh aqra anh ihvh mlTh npwi
5 Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, and our God is compassionate. (1-4-1)
ה חנ֣ון יהו֣ה וצד֑יק ו֖אלה֣ינו מרחֽם	8 7		h knun ihvh vxdiq valohinu mrkm
6 Yahweh keeps the simple. I was brought low and me he saves. (1-4-1)
ו שמ֣ר פתאי֣ם יהו֑ה ד֝לות֗י ול֣י יהושֽיע	8 9		v womr ptiim ihvh dloti vli ihowiy
7 Return, O my being, to your rest, for Yahweh has matured you. (1-4-1)
ז שוב֣י נ֭פשי למנוח֑יכי כֽי־י֝הו֗ה גמ֥ל עלֽיכי	8 8		z wubi npwi lmnukiici ci-ihvh gml yliici
8 ♪C For he rescued my being from death, my eyes from tears, my foot from tripping. (C-1-2-4-1)
ח כ֤י חל֥צת נפש֗י מ֫מ֥ות את־עינ֥י מן־דמע֑ה את־רגל֥י מדֽחי	9 6 6		k ci kilxt npwi mmvvt at-yini mn-dmyh at-rgli mdki
9 ♪g I will walk in the presence of Yahweh, in the lands of the living. (g-1-4-1)
ט א֭תהלך לפנ֣י יהו֑ה ב֝ארצ֗ות הֽחיֽים	7 6		T athlç lpni ihvh barxot hkiim
10 ♪g I believed so I spoke. I myself was much afflicted. (g-1-4-1)
י ה֭אמנתי כ֣י אדב֑ר א֝נ֗י ענ֥יתי מאֽד	8 7		i hamnti ci adbr ani yniti maod
11 ♪g I myself said in my haste, Every human lies. (g-1-4-1)
יא א֭ני אמ֣רתי בחפז֑י כֽל־האד֥ם כזֽב	8 6		ia ani amrti bkopzi cl-hadm cozb
12 What will I return to Yahweh, for all his benefits to me? (1-4-1)
יב מֽה־אש֥יב ליהו֑ה כֽל־תגמול֥והי עלֽי	5 7		ib mh-awib lihvh cl-tgmulohi ylii
13 The cup of salvation I will bear, so in the name of Yahweh I will call. (1-4-1)
יג כוס־ישוע֥ות אש֑א ובש֖ם יהו֣ה אקרֽא	6 6		ig cos-iwuyot awa ubwm ihvh aqra
14 ♪g My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people. (g-1-4-1)
יד נ֭דרי ליהו֣ה אשל֑ם נגדה־נ֝֗א לכל־עמֽו	8 7		id ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo
15 ♪g Precious in the eyes of Yahweh, is the death of those under his mercy. (g-1-4-1)
טו י֭קר בעינ֣י יהו֑ה ה֝מ֗ותה לחסידֽיו	7 7		Tv iqr byini ihvh hmvvth lksidiv
16 Yahweh beseeching, for I myself am your servant, I myself your servant and child of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. (1-2-4-1)
טז אֽנ֣ה יהוה֮ כֽי־אנ֪י ע֫בד֥ך א‍ֽני־ע֭בדך בן־אמת֑ך פ֝ת֗חת למוסרֽי	9 11 7		Tz anh ihvh ci-ani ybdç ani-ybdç bn-amtç pitkt lmosrii
17 To you I will offer the offering of thanksgiving, so in the name of Yahweh I will call. (1-4-1)
יז לֽך־א֭זבח ז֣בח תוד֑ה ובש֖ם יהו֣ה אקרֽא	8 6		iz lç-azbk zbk todh ubwm ihvh aqra
18 ♪g My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people, (g-1-4-1)
יח נ֭דרי ליהו֣ה אשל֑ם נגדה־נ֝֗א לכל־עמֽו	8 7		ik ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo
19 in the courts of the house of Yahweh, in your centre, O Jerusalem. Hallelu Yah. (1-1)
יט בחצר֤ות ב֤ית יהו֗ה בֽת֘וכ֤כי יֽרושל֗ם הֽללו־יֽה	17		iT bkxrot bit ihvh btocci iruwlim 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.