Psalm 7

Psalms 7: Syllables: 331; Longest recitation: 10; Tenor: f# 23.56%;
Ornament density: 12.7%; Average phrase length: 8.7.

Mode 4 with its strange sharpened fourth is not my favorite, but it fits the off kilter aspect of a reel, following the implied rebuke of psalm 6. It fits this reel in its own context. If Cush is Saul as tradition seems to imply, the music of 2 Samuel 1 may be heard as part of David's turmoil.

Every possible ornament that is used in the 3 poetry books is represented in this psalm at least once. Can you find them all and name them and sing them where they are found?

1 A reel of David, who sang to Yahweh, over the words of Cush of Benjamin, (1-2-4-1)
א שגי֗ון לד֫ו֥ד אשר־ש֥ר ליהו֑ה על־דברי־כ֝֗וש בן־ימינֽי	6 5 8		a wigion ldvid awr-wr lihvh yl-dbri-cuw bn-imini
2 Yahweh my God in you I take refuge. Save me from all my persecutors and deliver me, (1-4-1)
ב יהו֣ה א֭להי בך֣ חס֑יתי הושיע֥ני מכל־ר֝דפ֗י והצילֽני	10 13		b ihvh alohii bç ksiti howiyni mcl-rodpii vhxilni
3 lest he tear like a lion my throat, rending apart and there is none to deliver. (1-4-1)
ג פן־יטר֣ף כארי֣ה נפש֑י פ֝ר֗ק וא֣ין מצֽיל	8 6		g pn-iTrof carih npwi porq vain mxil
4 Yahweh my God if I have done this, if there is injustice in my palm, (1-4-1)
ד יהו֣ה א֭להי אם־עש֣יתי ז֑את אֽם־יש־ע֥ול בכפֽי	10 7		d ihvh alohii am-ywiti zat am-iw-yvvl bcpii
5 if I have paid back evil to one who is at peace with me, then let me be gripped without cause by my adversary. (1-4-1)
ה אם־ג֭מלתי שֽולמ֥י ר֑ע ואחלצ֖ה צורר֣י ריקֽם	7 8		h am-gmlti wolmi ry vaklxh xorri riqm
6 Let an enemy persecute me and overtake and trample my life on earth, and make my glory to dwell in the dust. Selah. (1-4-1)
ו יֽרד֥ף אוי֨ב נפש֡י ויש֗ג וירמ֣ס לא֣רץ חי֑י וכבוד֓י לעפ֖ר ישכ֣ן סֽלה	18 10		v irdof aoib npwi viwg virmos larx kii ucbodi lypr iwcn slh
7 ♪~ Arise Yahweh, in your anger, be lifted up in the outbursts of my adversary, and be aroused, my God, judgment you command. (~1-4-1)
ז ק֘ומ֤ה יהו֨ה באפ֗ך ה֭נשא בעבר֣ות צורר֑י וע֥ורה א֝ל֗י משפ֥ט צוֽית	16 10		z qumh ihvh bapç hinwa bybrot xorrii vyurh alii mwpT xivvit
8 And an assembly of tribes surround you, so for her of the high ground return. (1-4-1)
ח ועד֣ת ל֭אמים תסובב֑ך ו֝על֗יה למר֥ום שֽובה	10 9		k vydt laumim tsobbç vylih lmrom wubh
9 Yahweh makes the case for the peoples. Judge me Yahweh, for my righteousness and for my completeness in me. (1-2-4-1)
ט יהוה֮ יד֪ין ע֫מ֥ים שפט֥ני יהו֑ה כצדק֖י וכתמ֣י עלֽי	6 5 8		T ihvh idin ymim wopTni ihvh cxdqi uctumi ylii
10 May the evil of the wicked be obliterated and prepare a righteous one. So testing hearts and vital centres is God, a righteous one. (1-2-1)
י יגמר־נ֬א ר֨ע רשעים֮ ותכונ֪ן צ֫ד֥יק ובח֣ן ל֭ב֗ות וכלי֗ות אלה֥ים צדֽיק	12 13		i igmor-na ry rwyim utconn xdiq ubokn libot ucliot alohim xdiq
11 My shield is of God, saving the upright of heart. (1-4-1)
יא מֽגנ֥י על־אלה֑ים מ֝וש֗יע ישרי־לֽב	7 6		ia mgini yl-alohim mowiy iwri-lb
12 ♪g God judges a righteous one, and God is indignant every day. (g-1-4-1)
יב א֭להים שופ֣ט צד֑יק ו֝א֗ל זע֥ם בכל־יֽום	7 7		ib alohim wopT xdiq val zoym bcl-iom
13 If he will not turn he will hone his sword, his bow he directs, and he will aim. (1-4-1)
יג אם־ל֣א י֭שוב חרב֣ו ילט֑וש קשת֥ו ד֝ר֗ך וֽיכוננֽה	8 8		ig am-la iwub krbo ilTow qwto drç viconnha
14 ♪g And for him he has prepared consuming means of death. His arrows for those in hot pursuit he will draw. (g-1-4-1)
יד ו֭לו הכ֣ין כלי־מ֑ות ח֝צ֗יו לֽדלק֥ים יפעֽל	7 7		id vlo hcin cli-mvvt kixiv ldolqim ipyl
15 Behold he pushes out mischief, and he is big with toil and he gives birth to falsehood. (1-4-1)
טו הנ֥ה יחבל־א֑ון והר֥ה ע֝מ֗ל וי֣לד שֽקר	7 10		Tv hnh ikbl-avvn vhrh yml vild wqr
16 ♪B A pit he digs and he excavates it, and he miscarries into the destruction that he has worked. (B-1-4-1)
טז ב֣ור כ֭רֽה וֽיחפר֑הו ו֝יפ֗ל בש֣חת יפעֽל	8 8		Tz bor crh vikprhu viipol bwkt ipyl
17 He turns his toil in his head, and onto his scalp his violence descends. (1-4-1)
יז יש֣וב עמל֣ו בראש֑ו וע֥ל ק֝דקד֗ו חמס֥ו ירֽד	8 10		iz iwub ymlo brawo vyl qodqodo kmso iird
18 I will give thanks to Yahweh for his righteousness, and I will psalm the name of Yahweh on high. (1-4-1)
יח אוד֣ה יהו֣ה כצדק֑ו ו֝אזמר֗ה שֽם־יהו֥ה עליֽון	7 9		ik aodh ihvh cxdqo vazmrh wm-ihvh ylion

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