Psalm 12

Psalms 12: Syllables: 186; Longest recitation: 8; Tenor: f# 27.96%;
Ornament density: 10.8%; Average phrase length: 9.3.

Verse 9 is so applicable to the current day, but who knows which side is which? Does reading a psalm merely confirm our prejudices? Do we know the difference between good and evil. 

In my own earlier work, I pair this psalm with psalm 11 based on the verbal structures. So wicked is a frame in 11 and used once in 12; children of humanity is a frame in 12 and used once in 11. There seems to be no significant relationship in the music to the underlay of these recurrence features. They both have a tenor of f#. Perhaps I should not therefore set them to different tunings of the strings.

I read a suggestion that yl-hwminit is a reference to the 8th mode, rather than say over octaves. I don't know what to make of our ignorance and guesses when translating these poems. When it comes to study, the making of many books knows no end.

The ornament density is 10.8%, 20 in 186 syllables.

1 For the leader in the eighth mode. A psalm of David. (1-1)
א למנצ֥ח עֽל־השמינ֗ית מזמ֥ור לדוֽד	13		a lmnxk yl-hwminit mzmor ldvid
2 Save Yahweh, for obliterated is the merciful one, for vanished are the faithful among the children of humanity. (1-4-1)
ב הוש֣יעה י֭הוה כי־גמ֣ר חס֑יד כי־פ֥סו א֝מונ֗ים מבנ֥י אדֽם	10 10		b howiyh ihvh ci-gmr ksid ci-psu amunim mbni adm
3 ♪C Vanity they speak, each to his friend, lip divided, and heart from heart they speak. (C-1-2-4-1)
ג ש֤וא יֽדברו֮ א֤יש את־ר֫ע֥הו שפ֥ת חלק֑ות בל֖ב ול֣ב ידבֽרו	9 5 8		g wva idbru aiw at-riyhu wpt klqot blb vlb idbru
4 Yahweh will cut off all lips divided ... tongue speaking greatness, (1-4-1)
ד יכר֣ת י֭הוה כל־שפת֣י חלק֑ות ל֝ש֗ון מדב֥רת גדלֽות	10 9		d icrt ihvh cl-wpti klqot lwon mdbrt gdolot
5 who said, With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are ours. Who is Lord to us! (1-4-1)
ה אש֤ר אֽמר֨ו ללשנ֣נו נ֭גביר שפת֣ינו את֑נו מ֖י אד֣ון לֽנו	17 5		h awr amru llwonnu ngbir wptinu aitnu mi adon lnu
6 From the devastation of the poor, from the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise, says Yahweh, I will impose in safety. He snorts at him. (1-2-4-1)
ו מש֥ד עניים֮ מאנק֪ת אבי֫ונ֥ים עת֣ה א֭קום יאמ֣ר יהו֑ה אש֥ית ב֝י֗שע יפ֥יחֽ לֽו	11 8 9		v mwod yniim manqt abionim yth aqum iamr ihvh awit biwy ipik lo
7 The sayings of Yahweh are clean sayings, silver refined in a furnace of earth, purged seven times. (1-2-4-1)
ז אֽמר֣ות יהוה֮ אמר֪ות טה֫ר֥ות כ֣סף צ֭רוף בעל֣יל לא֑רץ מ֝זק֗ק שבעתֽים	11 10 7		z amrot ihvh amrot Thorot csf xruf bylil larx mzuqq wbytiim
8 You Yahweh you keep them. You will preserve us from this generation forever. (1-4-1)
ח אתֽה־יהו֥ה תשמר֑ם תצר֓נו מן־הד֖ור ז֣ו לעולֽם	7 10		k ath-ihvh twmrm tixrnu mn-hdor zu lyolm
9 On every side the wicked are walking, so exalted is the vileness of the children of humanity. (1-4-1)
ט סב֗יב רשע֥ים יתהלכ֑ון כר֥ם ז֝ל֗ות לבנ֥י אדֽם	9 8		T sbib rwyim ithlcun crum zulut lbni adm

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