Psalm 15

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

Psalms 15: Syllables: 119; Longest recitation: 9; Tenor: e 25.21%;
Ornament density: 14.3%; Average phrase length: 9.9.

The phrase in verse 2, B g f# A, hearkens back to Psalm 1 verse 1 and is also found in Psalm 90 verse 17. Is this a motif in the music around the Torah? We will find this melody in the context of day and night in Psalm 74, and the heavens and the earth in Psalm 89. So perhaps I am grasping at straws, but that's it for the psalms. The sequence of notes only occurs 5 times in the Psalter. In Proverbs, we find it four more times -- but that's off the subject for the moment. Perhaps I will get there someday. In the meanwhile you could wonder about 11:24, 15:25, 25:11, and 28:16 in that other book of poetry and see what you think. One of these reminds me of an old friend who might still be talking to me if he hadn't died young. You will see the identical shape of the phrase in verse 2.

Proverbs 25: Syllables: 18; Longest recitation: 5; Tenor: g 27.78%;

Back to this very serious psalm.

1 A psalm of David. Yahweh who will guest in your tent? Who will dwell on your holy hill? (1-2-4-1)
א מזמ֗ור לד֫ו֥ד י֭הוה מי־יג֣ור באהל֑ך מֽי־י֝שכ֗ן בה֣ר קדשֽך	5 10 8		a mzmor ldvid ihvh mi-igur baohlç mi-iwcon bhr qodwç
2 One walking complete and working righteousness, and speaking truth in his heart. (1-4-1)
ב הול֣ך ת֭מים ופע֥ל צ֑דק ודב֥ר א֝מ֗ת בלבבֽו	9 8		b holç tmim upoyl xdq vdobr amt blbbo
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. (1-4-1)
ג לֽא־רג֨ל על־לשנ֗ו לא־עש֣ה לרע֣הו רע֑ה ו֝חרפ֗ה לא־נש֥א על־קרֽבו	14 9		g la-rgl yl-lwono la-ywh lriyhu ryh vkrph la-nwa yl-qrobo
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. (1-4-1)
ד נבז֤ה בֽע֘ינ֤יו נמא֗ס ואת־ירא֣י יהו֣ה יכב֑ד נשב֥ע ל֝הר֗ע ול֣א ימֽר	16 9		d nbzh byiniv nmas vat-irai ihvh icbd nwby lhry vla imir
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. (1-2-4-1)
ה כספ֤ו לא־נת֣ן בנשך֮ וש֥חד על־נק֗י ל֥א ל֫ק֥ח עֽשה־א֑לה ל֖א ימ֣וט לעולֽם	16 4 6		h cspo la-ntn bnwç vwokd yl-nqi la lqk yowh-alh la iimoT lyolm