Psalm 89

In Seeing the Psalter, I ignored the music except for a very short introduction on page 400 for Psalm 120. I was concentrating on the words at the time and they are of course still important, but the music supports them as do the word recurrence patterns that I exhibited in the earlier work. There I divided the psalm into three large sections, 1-19, 20-38, and 39-53. Here is the musical analysis for these sections.

Psalms 89: 

(Verses 1 to 19) Syllables: 366; Longest recitation: 9; Tenor:  f#  23.50%;

Ornament density: 9.7%; Average phrase length: 9.8.

(Verses 20 to 38) Syllables: 318; Longest recitation: 14; Tenor:  B  23.58%;

Ornament density: 8.2%; Average phrase length: 8.4.

(Verses 39 to 53) Syllables: 266; Longest recitation: 9; Tenor:  f#  28.95%;

Ornament density: 8.3%; Average phrase length: 9.1.

I noted and fixed a number of errors in the music by comparing the Aleppo codex with the Leningrad codex. Several of them in Psalms 119 and 89 were on the words your faithfulness, אֱ֝מ֥וּנָתְךָ֗. Several times since the start of the project in October, I have repaired this word combination in psalms 36, 88, 89, 92, 119, and 143.

The word faithfulness occurs 7 times in this psalm. Note how it is set in the various parts of the verses 2, a motif imitated in verse 3, 6 a more typical second half of a verse, the motif of verse 6 imitated in verse 9. My faithfulness (occurs only in this psalm in the Bible) is in the first part of verse 25. Verse 34 looks like an error in the Aleppo codex -- but there is no extant prior manuscript to compare it with. Verse 50 is similarly at a low tessitura. Perhaps the lament of the text supports it. These instances can be compared with other settings of the words in the psalms: 36 v6, 40 v11, 88 v12, 92 v3, 119 v90, 143 v1.

Psalms 89: Syllables: 949; Longest recitation: 14; Tenor: f# 22.55%;
Ornament density: 8.8%; Average phrase length: 9.1.

1 ♪g An insight. Of Ethan the Ezrahite. (~1-1)
א מ֝שכ֗יל לאית֥ן הֽאזרחֽי	9		a mwcil laitn hazrki
2 Of the kindness of Yahweh forever I will sing. From generation to generation I will make known your faithfulness with my mouth. (1-4-1)
ב חֽסד֣י י֭הוה עול֣ם אש֑ירה לד֥ר וד֓ר אוד֖יע אמונתך֣ בפֽי	9 13		b ksdi ihvh yolm awirh ldor vdor aodiy amuntç bpi
3 for I said, Kindness ever builds. Heavens you will establish. Your faithfulness is in them. (1-4-1)
ג כֽי־אמ֗רתי ע֭ולם ח֣סד יבנ֑ה שמ֓ים תכ֖ן אמונתך֣ בהֽם	10 10		g ci-amrti yolm ksd iibnh wmiim tcin amuntç bhm
4 I have cut a covenant with my chosen. I have sworn to David my servant. (1-4-1)
ד כר֣תי ב֭רית לבחיר֑י נ֝שב֗עתי לדו֥ד עבדֽי	8 8		d crti brit lbkiri nwbyti ldvid ybdi
5 For evermore I will establish your seed, and I will build up your throne from generation to generation. Selah. (1-4-1)
ה עד־ע֭ולם אכ֣ין זרע֑ך ובנ֨יתי לדר־וד֖ור כסאך֣ סֽלה	8 13		h yd-yolm acin zryç ubniti ldor-vdor cisaç slh
6 Let the heavens give thanks for your wonders, Yahweh, also your faithfulness in the congregation of holy ones. (1-4-1)
ו וי֘וד֤ו שמ֣ים פלאך֣ יהו֑ה אף־א֝מ֥ונתך֗ בקה֥ל קדשֽים	10 10		v viodu wmiim plaç ihvh af-amuntç bqhl qdowim
7 ♪C For who in the sky will compare with Yahweh? Who has the likeness of Yahweh among the children of God? (C-1-4-1)
ז כ֤י מ֣י ב֭שחק יער֣ך ליהו֑ה ידמ֥ה ל֝יהו֗ה בבנ֥י אלֽים	10 8		z ci mi bwkq iyroç lihvh idmh lihvh bbni alim
8 ♪B God is ruthless in the plenary council of the holy ones, and feared above all around him. (B-1-4-1)
ח א֣ל נ֭ערץ בסוד־קדש֣ים רב֑ה ו֝נור֗א על־כל־סביבֽיו	11 8		k al nyrx bsod-qdowim rbh vnora yl-cl-sbibiv
9 Yahweh God of hosts, who is like you, Yah invincible, and your faithfulness all around you? (1-4-1)
ט יהו֤ה אל֘ה֤י צבא֗ות מי־כֽמ֖וך חס֥ין י֑ה ו֝אמ֥ונתך֗ סביבותֽיך	14 10		T ihvh alohi xbaot mi-cmoç ksin ih vamuntç sbibotiç
10 You yourself govern over the pride of the sea. When its waves gloat, you yourself soothe them. (1-4-1)
י את֣ה מ֭ושל בגא֣ות הי֑ם בש֥וא ג֝ל֗יו את֥ה תשבחֽם	9 9		i ath mowl bgaut him bwoa gliv ath twbkm
11 You yourself crushed Rahab to contrition as one who is profaned. With the arm of your strength you have scattered your enemies. (1-4-1)
יא את֤ה דכ֣את כחל֣ל ר֑הב בזר֥וע ע֝זך֗ פז֥רת אויבֽיך	10 11		ia ath dicit ckll rhb bzroy yuzç pizrt aoibiç
12 Yours heavens, yours also is earth. World and its fullness, you yourself founded them. (1-4-1)
יב לך֣ ש֭מים אף־לך֥ א֑רץ תב֥ל ו֝מלא֗ה את֥ה יסדתֽם	9 10		ib lç wmiim af-lç arx tbl umloah ath isdtm
13 North and south, you yourself created them. Tabor and Hermon in your name will shout for joy. (1-4-1)
יג צפ֣ון ו֭ימין את֣ה בראת֑ם תב֥ור ו֝חרמ֗ון בשמך֥ ירנֽנו	10 12		ig xpon vimin ath bratm tbor vkrmon bwmç irnnu
14 Yours is an arm with valour. Strong is your hand, exalted your right hand. (1-4-1)
יד לך֣ ז֭רוע עם־גבור֑ה תע֥ז י֝דך֗ תר֥ום ימינֽך	9 10		id lç zroy ym-gburh tyoz idç trum iminç
15 ♪B Righteousness and judgment are the stability of your throne. Kindness and truth go before your face. (B-1-4-1)
טו צ֣דק ו֭משפט מכ֣ון כסא֑ך ח֥סד ו֝אמ֗ת יֽקדמ֥ו פנֽיך	10 11		Tv xdq umwpT mcon cisaç ksd vamt iqdmu pniç
16 Happy the people knowing jubilation. Yahweh, in the light of your face they will walk. (1-4-1)
טז אשר֣י ה֭עם יודע֣י תרוע֑ה י֝הו֗ה בֽאור־פנ֥יך יהלכֽון	9 11		Tz awri hym iodyi truyh ihvh baor-pniç ihlcun
17 ♪g In your name they will rejoice all the day long, and in your righteousness they will be exalted. (g-1-4-1)
יז ב֭שמך יגיל֣ון כל־הי֑ום ובצדקתך֥ ירֽומו	9 7		iz bwmç igilun cl-hiom ubxdqtç irumu
18 For the adornment of their strength is you yourself, and in your acceptance our horn will be exalted. (1-4-1)
יח כֽי־תפא֣רת עז֣מו א֑תה ו֝ברצנך֗ תר֥ום קרנֽינו	9 9		ik ci-tpart yuzmo ath ubrxonç trum qrninu
19 ♪B For of Yahweh is our shield, and the Holy One of Israel our king. (B-1-4-1)
יט כ֣י לֽ֭יהוה מֽגנ֑נו ולקד֖וש ישרא֣ל מלכֽנו	7 9		iT ci lihvh mginnu vlqdow iwral mlcnu
20 ♪C Then you spoke in a vision to one under your mercy and said, I have agreed to help with one who prevails. I have exalted a chosen from the people. (C-1-4-1)
כ א֤ז דב֥רתֽ בח֡זון לֽחסיד֗יך ות֗אמר שו֣יתי ע֭זר על־גב֑ור הרימ֖ותי בח֣ור מעֽם	23 8		c az dibrt bkzon lksidiç vtamr wivviti yzr yl-gibor hrimoti bkur mym
21 ♪g I have found David my servant. With the oil of my holiness I have anointed him. (g-1-4-1)
כא מ֭צאתי דו֣ד עבד֑י בש֖מן קדש֣י משחתֽיו	7 8		ca mxati dvid ybdi bwmn qodwi mwktiv
22 That my hand will be established with him, also my arm will assure him. (1-4-1)
כב אש֣ר י֭די תכ֣ון עמ֑ו אף־זרוע֥י תאמצֽנו	8 8		cb awr idi ticon yimo af-zroyi tamxnu
23 An enemy will not have a claim on him. And a child of injustice will not answer him. (1-4-1)
כג לֽא־יש֣א אוי֣ב ב֑ו ובן־ע֝ול֗ה ל֣א יענֽנו	5 9		cg la-iwia aoib bo ubn-yvvlh la iynnu
24 And I have beaten his foes before his face, and those hating him I will plague. (1-4-1)
כד וכתות֣י מפנ֣יו צר֑יו ומשנא֥יו אגֽוף	9 5		cd vctoti mpniv xriv umwnaiv agof
25 And my faithfulness and my kindness are with him, and in my name his horn will be exalted. (1-4-1)
כה וֽאֽמונת֣י וחסד֣י עמ֑ו ו֝בשמ֗י תר֥ום קרנֽו	10 7		ch vamunti vksdi yimo ubwmi trum qrno
26 And I have set up his hand in the sea, and in the rivers his right hand. (1-4-1)
כו ושמת֣י בי֣ם יד֑ו וֽבנהר֥ות ימינֽו	7 7		cv vwmti bim ido ubnhrot imino
27 ♪B He will call to me, You are my father, my God and the rock of my salvation. (B-1-4-1)
כז ה֣וא י֭קראני א֣בי א֑תה א֝ל֗י וצ֣ור ישועתֽי	9 8		cz hua iqrani abi ath ali vxur iwuyti
28 I myself will also make him firstborn, on high to the kings of earth. (1-4-1)
כח אף־א֭ני בכ֣ור אתנ֑הו ע֝לי֗ון למלכי־אֽרץ	8 6		ck af-ani bcor atnhu ylion lmlci-arx
29 ♪g Forever I will keep my kindness with him, and my covenant will be his amen. (g-1-4-1)
כט ל֭עול֗ם אשמר־ל֣ו חסד֑י ו֝ברית֗י נאמ֥נת לֽו	8 8		cT lyolm awmor-lo ksdi ubriti namnt lo
30 And I have set up his seed for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (1-4-1)
ל ושמת֣י לע֣ד זרע֑ו ו֝כסא֗ו כימ֥י שמֽים	7 8		l vwmti lyd zryo vcisao cimi wmiim
31 If his children forsake my instruction, or fail to walk in my judgment, (1-4-1)
לא אם־יֽעזב֣ו ב֭ניו תורת֑י ו֝במשפט֗י ל֣א ילכֽון	9 8		la am-iyzbu bniv torti ubmwpTii la ilcun
32 If they profane my statutes, or fail to keep my commandments, (1-4-1)
לב אם־חקת֥י יחל֑לו ו֝מצות֗י ל֣א ישמֽרו	8 8		lb am-kuqotii ikllu umxvotii la iwmoru
33 then I will visit their transgression with the sceptre, and with touches their iniquity. (1-4-1)
לג ופקדת֣י בש֣בט פשע֑ם ובנגע֥ים עונֽם	9 7		lg upqdti bwbT pwym ubngyim yvonm
34 ♪g But my kindness will not be frustrated in him, and will not be proven false in my faithfulness. (g-1-4-1)
לד ו֭חסדי לא־אפ֣יר מֽעמ֑ו ולֽא־א֝שק֗ר באמונתֽי	8 9		ld vksdi la-apir myimo vla-awqr bamunti
35 I will not profane my covenant, and what emerges from my lips I will not feign. (1-4-1)
לה לא־אחל֥ל ברית֑י ומוצ֥א ש֝פת֗י ל֣א אשנֽה	6 10		lh la-akll briti umoxa wptii la awnh
36 ♪g Once I have sworn in my holiness, would I lie to David? (g-1-4-1)
לו א֭חת נשב֣עתי בקדש֑י אֽם־לדו֥ד אכזֽב	8 7		lv akt nwbyti bqodwi am-ldvid aczb
37 ♪g His seed will be forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (g-1-4-1)
לז ז֭רעו לעול֣ם יהי֑ה וכסא֖ו כש֣מש נגדֽי	7 8		lz zryo lyolm ihih vcisao cwmw ngdi
38 ♪g As the moon it will be established forever, a witness as faithful as the sky. Selah. (g-1-4-1)
לח כ֭ירח יכ֣ון עול֑ם וע֥ד ב֝ש֗חק נאמ֥ן סֽלה	8 10		lk cirk iicon yolm vyd bwkq namn slh
39 But you yourself have rejected and refused. You have passed through with your anointed. (1-4-1)
לט ואת֣ה ז֭נחת ותמא֑ס ה֝תעב֗רת עם־משיחֽך	9 9		lT vath znkt vtmas htybrt ym-mwikç
40 ♪g You have nullified the covenant of your servant. You have profaned his consecration to the earth. (g-1-4-1)
מ נ֭ארתה בר֣ית עבד֑ך חל֖לת לא֣רץ נזרֽו	8 8		m niart brit ybdç killt larx nzro
41 You have breached all his fences. You have set up his enclosures in disarray. (1-4-1)
מא פר֥צת כל־גדרת֑יו ש֖מת מבצר֣יו מחתֽה	8 8		ma prxt cl-gdrotiv wmt mbxriv mkith
42 ♪g All passing by his way plunder him. He becomes a reproach to his neighbours. (g-1-4-1)
מב ש֭סהו כל־ע֣ברי ד֑רך הי֥ה ח֝רפ֗ה לשכנֽיו	8 7		mb wsuhu cl-yobri drç hih krph lwcniv
43 ♪g You have exalted the right hand of his foes. You make glad all his enemies. (g-1-4-1)
מג ה֭רימות ימ֣ין צר֑יו ה֝שמ֗חת כל־אויבֽיו	8 6		mg hrimot imin xriv hwmkt cl-aoibiv
44 You will also turn the point of his sword, and not let him arise in the battle. (1-4-1)
מד אף־ת֭שיב צ֣ור חרב֑ו ול֥א ה֝קימת֗ו במלחמֽה	6 10		md af-twib xur krbo vla hqmoto bmlkmh
45 You have made his lustre cease, and his throne to earth you have heaved. (1-4-1)
מה השב֥ת מטהר֑ו ו֝כסא֗ו לא֥רץ מגֽרתה	6 9		mh hwbt mThro vcisao larx migrt
46 ♪g You have harvested the days of his youthful vigour, You have wrapped him in shame. Selah. (g-1-4-1)
מו ה֭קצרת ימ֣י עלומ֑יו ה֥עט֨ית על֖יו בוש֣ה סֽלה	8 10		mv hqxrt imi ylumiv hyTit yliv buwh slh
47 How long, Yahweh, will you hide? in perpetuity? will you kindle like fire your heat? (1-4-1)
מז עד־מ֣ה י֭הוה תסת֣ר לנ֑צח תבע֖ר כמו־א֣ש חמתֽך	10 9		mz yd-mh ihvh tistr lnxk tbyr cmo-aw kmtç
48 Remember how transient I am, to what vanity you created all the children of humanity. (1-4-1)
מח זכר־אנ֥י מה־ח֑לד על־מה־ש֝֗וא בר֥את כל־בני־אדֽם	7 10		mk zcor-ani mh-kld yl-mh-wva brat cl-bni-adm
49 ♪C How will valour live and not see death? Will he escape from the hand of the grave? Selah. (C-1-4-1)
מט מ֤י ג֣בר יֽ֭חיה ול֣א יראה־מ֑ות ימל֨ט נפש֖ו מיד־שא֣ול סֽלה	11 11		mT mi gbr ikih vla irah-mvvt imlT npwo mid-waol slh
50 Where are your former kindnesses, my Lord, the ones that you swore to David in your faithfulness? (1-4-1)
נ אי֤ה חסד֖יך הראשנ֥ים אדנ֑י נשב֥עת ל֝דו֗ד באמונתֽך	13 12		n aih ksdiç hrawonim adonii nwbyt ldvid bamuntç
51 Remember, my Lord, the reproach of your servants, that I bear in my embrace all of a multitude of peoples, (1-4-1)
נא זכ֣ר א֭דני חרפ֣ת עבד֑יך שאת֥י ב֝חיק֗י כל־רב֥ים עמֽים	11 11		na zcor adonii krpt ybdiç wati bkiqi cl-rbim ymim
52 that your enemies Yahweh have reproached, that they have reproached the footsteps of your anointed. (1-4-1)
נב אש֤ר חרפ֖ו אויב֥יך יהו֑ה אש֥ר ח֝רפ֗ו עקב֥ות משיחֽך	9 10		nb awr kirpu aoibiç ihvh awr kirpu yiqbot mwikç
53 Bless Yahweh forever amen and amen. (1-1)
נג בר֖וך יהו֥ה ל֝עול֗ם א֘מ֥ן ואמֽן	12		ng bruç ihvh lyolm amn vamn

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