Friday, 2 January 2026

Psalm 23 - hunting strophes

I thought I would try a shorter psalm. Then maybe I will try the longest one. 

The tenor of the psalm is f#. (42 other psalms have a tenor of f#). Much of the Psalter lives in a pending state.

  1. Every verse except verse 2 returns to the tonic via revia mugrash on the f#. 
  2. Every verse except verse 5 ends with the notes B e. So these two points define the endings as f# ger-rev B e.  (except as noted above).
  3. Verse 5 sounds the interval e B e for only one note on the opening segment of the verse with the ornament illuy. 
  4. Verses 3 and 4 are a pair, as are verses 5 and 6. They are paired by the non-tonic first note of the even numbered verse.
  5. Verses 1 and 2 include the inscription. Every Hebrew word in every psalm is sung, even the inscriptions and selah.
I thought that revia mugrash on the f# would be rare. But nearly 1000 verses in the three books announce the return to the tonic with ger-rev on f#. About twice as many have this 'tuba' on the A and 1/10th on the e. Two on the g and two on the C -- must look at these! (Tuba in plainsong.)

The whole is short enough to be a single strophe. But it does divide quite simply. My division in my first book on the psalms was done without the music. Mental effort is not as well informed without the music. I won't be fixing the earlier book but who knows if I may write another one altogether.

e f# ^A f# ger-rev,B e
-- occurs 20 times
silluq merkha ^atnah merkha munah silluq
23.1 A psalm of David.
Yahweh is my shepherd. I will not lack. (1-4-1)
א מזמ֥ור לדו֑ד
יהו֥ה ר֝ע֗י ל֣א אחסֽר
5
7
a mzmor ldvid
ihvh royi la aksr
e B g ^A g B e
-- occurs 67 times
silluq munah tifha ^atnah tifha munah silluq
23.2 In verdant loveliness he makes me recline.
By waters at rest he refreshes me. (1-4-1)
ב בנא֣ות ד֭שא ירביצ֑ני
על־מ֖י מנח֣ות ינהלֽני
8
10
b bnaot dwa irbixni
yl-mi mnukot inhlni
e f# ^A e f# ger-rev,B e
-- occurs 4 times
silluq merkha ^atnah silluq merkha munah silluq
23.3 My being he repairs.
He guides me in tracks of righteousness for the sake of his name. (1-4-1)
ג נפש֥י ישוב֑ב
יֽנח֥ני במעגלי־צ֝֗דק למ֣ען שמֽו
5
13
g npwi iwobb
inkni bmygli-xdq lmyn wmo
C e qad,d paz,zar,C rev,f# ^A f# ger-rev,B e
unique to this verse
mahpakh silluq galgal mahpakh merkha ^atnah merkha munah silluq
23.4 ♪C Furthermore because I walk in the gorge shadowing death, I will not fear evil, because you are with me.
Your sceptre and your staff, they re-create me. (C-4-1)
ד ג֤ם כֽי־אל֨ך בג֪יא צלמ֡ות לא־א֘יר֤א ר֗ע כי־את֥ה עמד֑י
שבטך֥ ו֝משענת֗ך ה֣מה ינֽחמֽני
16
15
d gm ci-alç bgia xlmvvt la-aira ry ci-ath yimdi
wbTç umwyntç hmh inkmuni
e ill,qad,rev,f# ^A g f# ger-rev,f# e
unique to this verse
silluq merkha ^atnah tifha merkha silluq
23.5 You arrange facing me a table in front of my adversaries.
You fatten with oil my head. My cup is saturated. (1-4-1)
ה תער֬ך לפנ֨י ׀ שלח֗ן נ֥גד צרר֑י
דש֖נת בש֥מן ר֝אש֗י כוס֥י רויֽה
12
13
h tyroç lpnii wulkn ngd xorrii
diwnt bwmn rawi cosi rvvih
C C B g B ^A f# ger-rev,B e
unique to this verse
mahpakh munah tifha munah ^atnah merkha munah silluq
23.6 ♪C Surely goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will sit in the house of Yahweh for length of days. (C-4-1)
ו א֤ך ׀ ט֤וב וח֣סד י֭רדפוני כל־ימ֣י חי֑י
ושבת֥י בבית־י֝הו֗ה לא֣רך ימֽים
14
12
v aç Tob vksd irdpuni cl-imi kii
vwbti bbit-ihvh laorç imim


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