Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:1 raw data

The Hermeneutrix has posted a translation of a bit of Proverbs 8 by Robert Alter. Some of you may have noticed my use of this chapter in a recent section of my letters to my children. I thought it would be instructive to compare what I have done with Alter. 

My work was done with a view to music and concordance in translation rather than literature. I am under far greater constraints than Alter. I must preserve word order where feasible (and I don't always do that) and I should not drop or add syllables (impossible of course). But I do not allow myself to slip from one synonym to another without a high degree of algorithmic care. If I break my rules, my algorithms show me and I have to make a decision whether to bypass the rules or not. There are thousands of decisions that a translator makes - some of them on the fly. A translator needs a host of feedback mechanisms - people are best, but lacking them, algorithms are tougher to hide from.

Here's my arrangement of 8:1 for the music in English.

Proverbs 8:1 arranged

And here is the next verse: rhythms of the English are taken advantage of.

Proverbs 8:2 raw data

Proverbs 8:2 arranged

The full score is available - a mechanical performance of the second day is here.

Now the two translations side by side.

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, trans. Bob MacDonald		Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, trans. Robert Alter
Does not wisdom call,	1	Look, Wisdom calls out,
and understanding give her voice?		and Discernment lifts her voice.
At the head, from the high ground, by a way,	2	At the top of the heights, on the way,
the house of pathways, she stands firm.		at the crossroads, she takes her stand,
From the hand at the gates, to the edge of the town,	3	by the gates, at the city’s entrance,
she shouts at the entrance of the doors.		at the approach to the portals, she shouts:
To each and every one of you I call,	4	To you, men, I call out,
and my voice is to the children of humanity.		and my voice to humankind.
Yahweh bought me, the beginning of his way,	22	The HOLY ONE created me at the outset of His way,
preceding his work from then.		the very first of His works of old.
From everlasting I have offered libation from the beginning, out of the precedents of earth.	23	In remote eons I was shaped, at the start of the first things of earth.
When there were no abysses, I was birthed,	24	When there were no deeps I was spawned,
when there were no springs, heavy with water.		when there were no wellsprings, water sources.
From ere hills were ringed,	25	Before mountains were anchored,
before the presence of hillocks, I was birthed.		before hills I was spawned.
While he had not made earth or outsides,	26	He had yet not made earth and open land,
or the preeminent fauna of the world.		and the world’s first clods of soil.
In the establishing of the heavens, there am I,	27	When He founded the heavens, I was there,
when he engraved the ambit on the face of the abyss.		when He traced a circle on the face of the deep,
When he assured the skies from above,	28	when He propped up the skies above,
in the strength of the springs of the abyss.		when He powered the springs of the deep,
In his defining to the sea his decree, and the waters not to bypass his mandate,	29	when He set to the sea its limit, that the waters not flout His command,
when he engraved the foundations of earth,		when He strengthened the earth’s foundations.
And I was next to him as confidante,	30	And I was by Him, an intimate,
and I was reveling day by day,		I was His delight day after day,
gamboling in his presence all the time,		playing before Him at all times,
gamboling in the world of his earth,	31	playing in the world, His earth,
reveling with the children of humanity. P		and my delight with humankind.

So what questions would you have for the translator(s)? See my answers here.

miwli k	Proverbs 8
a hloa-kcmh tqra utbunh titn qolh	1 Does not wisdom call, and understanding give her voice?
b braw-mromim yli-drç bit ntibot nixbh	2 At the head, from the high ground, by a way, the house of pathways, she stands firm.
g lid-wyrim lpi-qrt mboa ptkim tronh	3 From the hand at the gates, to the edge of the town, she shouts at the entrance of the doors.
d alicm aiwim aqra vqoli al-bni adm	4 To each and every one of you I call, and my voice is to the children of humanity.
cb ihvh qnni rawit drco qdm mpyliv maz	22 Yahweh bought me, the beginning of his way, preceding his work from then.
cg myolm niscti mraw mqdmi-arx	23 From everlasting I have offered libation from the beginning, out of the precedents of earth.
cd bain-thomot kollti bain myiinot ncbdi-mim	24 When there were no abysses, I was birthed, when there were no springs, heavy with water.
ch b'trm hrim hu'tbyu lpni gbyot kollti	25 From ere hills were ringed, before the presence of hillocks, I was birthed.
cv yd-la ywh arx vkuxot vraw yprot tbl	26 While he had not made earth or outsides, or the preeminent fauna of the world.
cz bhcino wmiim wm ani bkuqo kug yl-pni thom	27 In the establishing of the heavens, there am I, when he engraved the ambit on the face of the abyss.
ck bamxo wkqim mmyl byzoz yinot thom	28 When he assured the skies from above, in the strength of the springs of the abyss.
c't bwumo lim kuqo umim la iybru-piv bkuqo mosdi arx	29 In his defining to the sea his decree, and the waters not to bypass his mandate, when he engraved the foundations of earth,
l vahih axlo amon vahih wywuyim iom iom mwkqt lpniv bcl-yt	30 And I was next to him as confidante, and I was reveling day by day, gamboling in his presence all the time,
la mwkqt btbl arxo vwywuyii at-bni adm p	31 gamboling in the world of his earth, reveling with the children of humanity. P

Oratorio part 7, Psalms 150

There's room to expand on the finale of the oratorio. But it does go from the dismal to the happy. I am assuming that praise is happy. Certainly any time I look at the complexity and beauty of things I am thankful.

Psalms 150

The opening of Psalms 150

Syllables: 94. Words: 37. Roots: 22. Root Recurrence: 49%. Average per verse: 3.

al cl cnr gbr gdl hll (13) ih (3) kvl mn nbl nwm qdw rb rqy rvy tpp tqy wmy wpr xll (2) ygb yzz

הַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְלוּ־אֵ֥ל בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בִּרְקִ֥יעַ עֻזּֽוֹ		1 ♪f Hallelu Yah. Praise God in his holiness. Praise him in the expanse of his strength.
a hllu-ih hllu-al bqodwo hlluhu brqiy yuzo	9 8	hll\v ih hll\v al b/qdw\v hll\vhv b/rqy yz\v
הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָ֑יו הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כְּרֹ֣ב גֻּדְלֽוֹ		2 Praise him in his valiant acts. Praise him for the multitude of his greatness.
b hlluhu bgburotiv hlluhu crob gudlo	7 7	hll\vhv b/gbvr\tiv hll\vhv c/rb gdl\v
הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ בְּתֵ֣קַע שׁוֹפָ֑ר הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּנֵ֣בֶל וְכִנּֽוֹר		3 ♪g Praise him with the sound of a shophar. Praise him with lute and harp.
g hlluhu btqy wopr hlluhu bnbl vcinor	8 9	hll\vhv b/tqy wvpr hll\vhv b/nbl v/cnr
הַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ בְתֹ֣ף וּמָח֑וֹל הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּמִנִּ֥ים וְעוּגָֽב		4 ♪g Praise him with drum and dance. Praise him on harp-strings and pipes.
d hlluhu btof umkol hlluhu bminim vyugb	8 9	hll\vhv b/tp vm/kvl hll\vhv b/mn\im v/ygb
הַֽלְל֥וּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁ֑מַע הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בְּֽצִלְצְלֵ֥י תְרוּעָֽה		5 Praise him on cymbals to be heard. Praise him on cymbals of jubilation.
h hlluhu bxlxli-wmy hlluhu bxlxli truyh	8 10	hll\vhv b/xl\xli wmy hll\vhv b/xl\xli t/rvy\h
כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ		6 ♪B All the breath-bearing praise Yah. Hallelu Yah.
v col hnwmh thll ih hllu-ih	11	cl h/nwm\h t/hll ih hll\v ih

6	breath-bearing, נשׁם (nwm), panting, used of a woman in childbirth (also Psalm 18:16, where the breath-bearing is used of God again implying a birthing process).

First time recurrence (for this book in the chapter): xll

Word / Gloss	1	2	3	Vs	Stem
בצלצלי on cymbals			▒	5	צלל
בצלצלי on cymbals of			▒	5	צלל

The last phrase of Psalms 150 - praise in a minor key

Oratorio part 7, Psalms 117

 The shortest chapter. I did not use my earliest setting of Psalms 117. 

Psalms 117

Psalms 117 snipped from an old YouTube version

Syllables: 34. Words: 17. Roots: 14. Root Recurrence: 35%. Average per verse: 3.

amh amt at ci cl (2) gbr gvi hll (2) ih ihvh (2) ksd wbk yl ylm

הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־גּוֹיִ֑ם שַׁ֝בְּח֗וּהוּ כָּל־הָאֻמִּֽים		1 Praise Yahweh, all nations. Commend him, all the clans.
a hllu at-ihvh cl-goiim wbkuhu cl-haumim	8 7	hll\v at ihvh cl gvi\m wbk\vhv cl h/am\im
כִּ֥י גָ֘בַ֤ר עָלֵ֨ינוּ ׀ חַסְדּ֗וֹ וֶֽאֱמֶת־יְהוָ֥ה לְעוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ		2 ♪f For his mercy has prevailed over us, and the truth of Yahweh is forever. Praise Yah.
b ci gbr ylinu ksdo vamt-ihvh lyolm hllu-ih	19	ci gbr yl\inv ksd\v v/amt ihvh l/yvlm hll\v ih

1	clans, אמה (amh) unique in the Psalter, related to mother. [Romans 15:11]

The oratorio uses these elementary demonstrations of the viability of Haïk-Vantoura's application of Ockham's Razor and push the multi-modal possibilities a bit further.

A snippet of the fun to be had for the basses in Psalms 117

Oratorio part 7, Psalms 92

The recitative for the 7th day begins the section. Recitative style is demonstrated here. Then there are three psalms, 92 for the Sabbath is also an aria like 116, then next is Psalms 117, the final psalm of the series begun in part 1 with 110,  and finally 150. Some parts are shorter than others. The whole is roughly slightly over an hour's music.

I have not workshopped any of the pieces here so I have little idea how much effort this would take to prepare even with minimal forces. But individual psalms as chorales or anthems could be performed separately. And the Job series would be fun just on its own. Some of it would require light-hearted fast singing.

As I review the mechanicals at the playlist on my YouTube channel, I think some of the tempi may be a bit on the fast side. Again the full score is here and all the posts of this month, revisiting this after 2 years, are mostly in sequence on the blog. There sure seem to be a lot of them. 

[The links are fixed to the online concordance - the only bug is that they are in English letter sequence rather than SimHebrew letter sequence - O well! One day I will consolidate my hacks. A solo interactive database really gets away from an individual. If I ever have to move it to another computer - I could do it then - but I would probably not. I would just restore the environment and then restore the database from an image.]

Psalms 92

Psalms 92:1-2a melody according to the deciphering key of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura

A psalm, a song to the day of the Sabbath, luxuriant, flourishing

Syllables: 269. Words: 112. Roots: 84. Root Recurrence: 39%. Average per verse: 2.8.

abd aib (2) aiw alvh amn arz at ath avn (2) azn b bin bit bll bqr byr ci (4) cl (2) cmv cnr csl dwn 'tvb gdl hgh hih hnh (2) id idh idy ihvh (7) ivm iwr ksd kwb kxr la (3) lbnvn lil mad mh nb't nbl ngd (2) nvb prd prk (3) pyl (3) qrn qvm ram rnn rvm (2) rwy rynn (2) ryy tmr wbt wgh wib wir wm wmd wmk wmn wmy wtl wvr xdiq xvr xvx yd (2) yin yl (4) ylivn ylm ymq yvd yvl ywb ywh (2) ywr zat zmr (2)

מִזְמ֥וֹר שִׁ֗יר לְי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת		1 A psalm. A song to the day of the Sabbath.
a mzmor wir liom hwbt	8	m/zmr wir l/ivm h/wbt
ט֗וֹב לְהֹד֥וֹת לַיהוָ֑ה וּלְזַמֵּ֖ר לְשִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן		2 ♪~ Good it is to give thanks to Yahweh, and to sing a psalm to your name, O Most High,
b 'tob lhodot lihvh ulzmr lwmç ylion	6 8	+vb lh/d\vt l/ihvh vl/zmr l/wm\c ylivn
לְהַגִּ֣יד בַּבֹּ֣קֶר חַסְֽדֶּ֑ךָ וֶ֝אֱמֽוּנָתְךָ֗ בַּלֵּילֽוֹת		3 to announce in the morning your kindness, and your faithfulness in the nights,
g lhgid bboqr ksdç vamuntç blilot	9 8	lh/gd b/bqr ksd\c v/amvn\tc b/lil\vt
עֲ‍ֽלֵי־עָ֭שׂוֹר וַעֲלֵי־נָ֑בֶל עֲלֵ֖י הִגָּי֣וֹן בְּכִנּֽוֹר		4 on ten-strings and on a lute, on meditation with a harp.
d yli-ywor vyli-nbl yli higion bcinor	7 8	yl\i ywr v/yl\i nbl yl\i h/g\ivn b/cnr
כִּ֤י שִׂמַּחְתַּ֣נִי יְהוָ֣ה בְּפָעֳלֶ֑ךָ בְּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן		5 ♪C For you have made me glad, Yahweh, in your work. In the deeds of your hands I will shout for joy.
h ci wimktni ihvh bpoylç bmywi idiç arnn	12 10	ci wmk\tni ihvh b/pyl\c bm/yw\i id\ic a/rnn
מַה־גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ		6 How great your deeds Yahweh, very deep your devices.
v mh-gdlu mywiç ihvh maod ymqu mkwbotiç	9 9	mh gdl\v m/yw\ic ihvh mad ymq\v m/kwb\tic
אִֽישׁ־בַּ֭עַר לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל לֹא־יָבִ֥ין אֶת־זֹֽאת		7 A brute does not know, and a dullard will not understand this:
z aiw-byr la iidy ucsil la-ibin at-zat	6 6	aiw byr la idy v/csl la i/bin at zat
בִּפְרֹ֤חַ רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ כְּמ֥וֹ עֵ֗שֶׂב וַ֭יָּצִיצוּ כָּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן לְהִשָּֽׁמְדָ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַֽד		8 that the wicked flourish like field-grass and all workers of mischief blossom, to be exterminated for ever and ever.
k bprok rwyim cmo ywb vixixu cl-poyli avvn lhiwmdm ydi-yd	20 7	b/prk rwy\im cmv ywb vi/xix\v cl pyl\i avn lh/wmd\m yd\i yd
וְאַתָּ֥ה מָר֗וֹם לְעֹלָ֥ם יְהוָֽה		9 But you are on high forever, Yahweh.
't vath mrom lyolm ihvh	10	v/ath m/rvm l/ylm ihvh
כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אֹיְבֶ֡יךָ ׀ יְֽהוָ֗ה כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה אֹיְבֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ יִ֝תְפָּרְד֗וּ כָּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן		10 ♪C For behold your enemies Yahweh, for behold your enemies will perish. All workers of mischief will be separated.
i ci hnh aoibiç ihvh ci-hnh aoibiç iabdu itprdu cl-poyli avvn	16 9	ci hnh aib\ic ihvh ci hnh aib\ic i/abd\v it/prd\v cl pyl\i avn
וַתָּ֣רֶם כִּרְאֵ֣ים קַרְנִ֑י בַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן רַעֲנָֽן		11 But you will exalt my horn like wild bulls. I have been mingled with luxuriant oil.
ia vtrm cram qrni bloti bwmn rynn	7 9	vt/rm c/ram qrn\i bl\ti b/wmn rynn
וַתַּבֵּ֥ט עֵינִ֗י בְּשׁ֫וּרָ֥י בַּקָּמִ֖ים עָלַ֥י מְרֵעִ֗ים תִּשְׁמַ֥עְנָה אָזְנָֽי		12 And my eye has taken note of those who scrutinize me, of evildoers who arise over me, my ear has heard.
ib vtb't yini bwurii bqmim ylii mryim twmynh aoznii	8 13	vt/b+ yin\i b/wvr\i b/qm\im yl\i m/ry\im t/wmy\nh azn\i
צַ֭דִּיק כַּתָּמָ֣ר יִפְרָ֑ח כְּאֶ֖רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֣וֹן יִשְׂגֶּֽה		13 ♪g A righteous one will flourish like a palm tree, like a cedar in Lebanon abounding.
ig xdiq ctmr iprk carz blbnon iwgh	7 8	xdiq c/tmr i/prk c/arz b/lbnvn i/wgh
שְׁ֭תוּלִים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה בְּחַצְר֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ יַפְרִֽיחוּ		14 ♪g Those transplanted in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of our God will flourish.
id wtulim bbit ihvh bkxrot alohinu ipriku	7 10	wtvl\im b/bit ihvh b/kxr\vt alh\inv i/prkv
ע֭וֹד יְנוּב֣וּן בְּשֵׂיבָ֑ה דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים וְרַֽעֲנַנִּ֣ים יִהְיֽוּ		15 ♪g They will still profit when grey-haired. Fat and luxuriant they will be:
'tv yod inubun bwibh dwnim vrynnim ihiu	7 10	yvd i/nvb\vn b/wib\h dwn\im v/rynn\im i/hi\v
לְ֭הַגִּיד כִּֽי־יָשָׁ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה צ֝וּרִ֗י וְֽלֹא־עַוְלָ֥תָה בּֽוֹ		16 ♪g to announce that upright is Yahweh, my rock, and there is no injustice in him.
'tz lhgid ci-iwr ihvh xuri vla-yvvlth bo	7 8	lh/gd ci iwr ihvh xvr\i v/la yvl\th b\v

6	very deep, עמק (`mq) or most inscrutable (to avoid the deep gloss), see 64:7 where these letters recur.
14	transplanted, compare Psalm 1:3, 128:3.

First time recurrence (for this book in the chapter): prk rynn

Word / Gloss	1	2	Vs	Stem
בפרח that flourish	▒		8	פרח
רענן luxuriant		▒	11	רענן
יפרח will flourish	▒		13	פרח
יפריחו will flourish	▒		14	פרח
ורעננים and luxuriant		▒	15	רענן

Oratorio part 6, Psalms 116

 Psalms 116 took a form that was completely unexpected. I had been setting psalms from 110-115 and they all seemed to be homophonic chorales. Psalms 116 turned into an aria instead, with verse 5 serving as a repeating chorus as the soloist works through the first 4 verses and verse 16. Verse 16 is the release given the prayer announced by verses 3 and 4. Verses 1 and 2 then provide a recap. 

Psalms 116

Psalms 116 verse 5, and the beginning of the aria

Syllables: 298. Words: 131. Roots: 77. Root Recurrence: 61%. Average per verse: 4.2.

adm ahb alvh amh amn amr ana (2) ani (4) app arx asr at (3) azn bit bn ci (6) cl (4) cvs czb dbr dkh dll dmy gml (2) hlc hll idh igh ih ihvh (15) iqr irvwlm ivm iwy (2) kbl kih klx knn (2) kpz ksid kxr l (3) mad mh ml't mn mvt (3) mxa (2) na (2) ndr (2) n'th ngd (2) npw (3) nvk nwa pnh pti ptk qra (4) qvl rgl rkm tvc wavl wlm (2) wm (3) wmr wmy wvb (2) xdiq xrr (2) ybd (2) yin (2) yl (2) ym (2) ynh zbk (2)

אָ֭הַבְתִּי כִּֽי־יִשְׁמַ֥ע ׀ יְהוָ֑ה אֶת־ק֝וֹלִ֗י תַּחֲנוּנָֽי		1 ♪g I love, for Yahweh heard, the voice of my supplication.
a ahbti ci-iwmy ihvh at-qoli tknunii	8 7	ahb\ti ci i/wmy ihvh at qvl\i t/knvn\i
כִּֽי־הִטָּ֣ה אָזְנ֣וֹ לִ֑י וּבְיָמַ֥י אֶקְרָֽא		2 For he bent his ear to me, and in my days I will call.
b ci-h'th aozno li ubimii aqra	5 5	ci h/+h azn\v l\i vb/im\i a/qra
אֲפָפ֤וּנִי ׀ חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָג֣וֹן אֶמְצָֽא		3 The pangs of death enveloped me and anguish of Sheol found me. Trouble and sadness I find.
g appuni kbli-mvvt umxri waol mxauni xrh vigon amxa	16 7	app\vni kbl\i mvt vm/xr\i wavl mxa\vni xr\h v/ig\vn a/mxa
וּבְשֵֽׁם־יְהוָ֥ה אֶקְרָ֑א אָנָּ֥ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה מַלְּטָ֥ה נַפְשִֽׁי		4 So in the name of Yahweh I will call, beseeching, Yahweh, make an escape for my being.
d ubwm-ihvh aqra anh ihvh ml'th npwi	6 8	vb/wm ihvh a/qra an\h ihvh ml+\h npw\i
חַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֣ה וְצַדִּ֑יק וֵ֖אלֹהֵ֣ינוּ מְרַחֵֽם		5 Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, and our God is compassionate.
h knun ihvh vxdiq valohinu mrkm	8 7	knvn ihvh v/xdiq v/alh\inv m/rkm
שֹׁמֵ֣ר פְּתָאיִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דַּ֝לּוֹתִ֗י וְלִ֣י יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ		6 Yahweh keeps the simple. I was brought low and me he saves.
v womr ptiim ihvh dloti vli ihowiy	8 9	wmr pt\aim ihvh dl\ti v/l\i ihv/wy
שׁוּבִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָ֑יְכִי כִּֽי־יְ֝הוָ֗ה גָּמַ֥ל עָלָֽיְכִי		7 Return, O my being, to your rest, for Yahweh has matured you.
z wubi npwi lmnukiici ci-ihvh gml yliici	8 9	wvb\i npw\i lm/nvk\ici ci ihvh gml yl\ici
כִּ֤י חִלַּ֥צְתָּ נַפְשִׁ֗י מִ֫מָּ֥וֶת אֶת־עֵינִ֥י מִן־דִּמְעָ֑ה אֶת־רַגְלִ֥י מִדֶּֽחִי		8 ♪C For he rescued my being from death, my eyes from tears, my foot from tripping.
k ci kilxt npwi mmvvt at-yini mn-dmyh at-rgli mdki	9 6 6	ci klx\t npw\i m/mvt at yin\i mn dmy\h at rgl\i m/dk\i
אֶ֭תְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה בְּ֝אַרְצ֗וֹת הַֽחַיִּֽים		9 ♪g I will walk in the presence of Yahweh, in the lands of the living.
't athlç lpni ihvh barxot hkiim	7 6	at/hlc l/pn\i ihvh b/arx\vt h/ki\im
הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אֲ֝נִ֗י עָנִ֥יתִי מְאֹֽד		10 ♪g I believed so I spoke. I myself was much afflicted.
i hamnti ci adbr ani yniti maod	8 7	h/amn\ti ci a/dbr ani yn\iti mad
אֲ֭נִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְחָפְזִ֑י כָּֽל־הָאָדָ֥ם כֹּזֵֽב		11 ♪g I myself said in my haste, Every human lies.
ia ani amrti bkopzi cl-hadm cozb	8 6	ani amr\ti b/kpz\i cl h/adm czb
מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב לַיהוָ֑ה כָּֽל־תַּגְמוּל֥וֹהִי עָלָֽי		12 What will I return to Yahweh, for all his benefits to me?
ib mh-awib lihvh cl-tgmulohi ylii	5 7	mh a/wb l/ihvh cl t/gmvl\vhi yl\i
כּוֹס־יְשׁוּע֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֑א וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא		13 The cup of salvation I will bear, so in the name of Yahweh I will call.
ig cos-iwuyot awa ubwm ihvh aqra	6 6	cvs iwvy\vt a/wa vb/wm ihvh a/qra
נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ		14 ♪g My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people.
id ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo	8 7	ndr\i l/ihvh a/wlm ngd\h na l/cl ym\v
יָ֭קָר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הַ֝מָּ֗וְתָה לַחֲסִידָֽיו		15 ♪g Precious in the eyes of Yahweh, is the death of those under his mercy.
'tv iqr byini ihvh hmvvth lksidiv	7 7	iqr b/yin\i ihvh h/mvt\h l/ksid\iv
אָֽנָּ֣ה יְהוָה֮ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֪י עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ אֲ‍ֽנִי־עַ֭בְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶ֑ךָ פִּ֝תַּ֗חְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָֽי		16 Yahweh beseeching, for I myself am your servant, I myself your servant and child of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.
'tz anh ihvh ci-ani ybdç ani-ybdç bn-amtç pitkt lmosrii	9 9 7	an\h ihvh ci ani ybd\c ani ybd\c bn am\tc ptk\t lmv/sr\i
לְֽךָ־אֶ֭זְבַּח זֶ֣בַח תּוֹדָ֑ה וּבְשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָֽא		17 To you I will offer the offering of thanksgiving, so in the name of Yahweh I will call.
iz lç-azbk zbk todh ubwm ihvh aqra	8 6	l\c a/zbk zbk tv/dh vb/wm ihvh a/qra
נְ֭דָרַי לַיהוָ֣ה אֲשַׁלֵּ֑ם נֶגְדָה־נָּ֝֗א לְכָל־עַמּֽוֹ		18 ♪g My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people,
ik ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo	8 7	ndr\i l/ihvh a/wlm ngd\h na l/cl ym\v
בְּחַצְר֤וֹת ׀ בֵּ֤ית יְהוָ֗ה בְּֽת֘וֹכֵ֤כִי יְֽרוּשָׁלִָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ		19 in the courts of the house of Yahweh, in your centre, O Jerusalem. Hallelu Yah.
i't bkxrot bit ihvh btocci iruwlim hllu-ih	17	b/kxr\vt bit ihvh b/tvc\ci irvwlm hll\v ih

I remember being surprised that some psalms would lend themselves to aria rather than chorus. But of course, some might lend themselves to drama, dialogue, and other forms as well. I haven't set them all by any means. 

My computer programs have generated all the scores, see the music page on this blog. Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura did all hers by hand, and she completed many chapters throughout the Bible including all 150 psalms. A link to her scores is also on the music page. Here for instance is Psalms 116. You can see that I did not use the mode she suggested in this case. We need composers to discover these and set more of them for performance or even just perform those that we have. All the raw material for the music is available freely in score form and in music XML. There's a vast amount of beauty here to be discovered. 

It sure beats arguing about hierarchies, and disjunctive and conjunctive accents. - All thoroughly distracting from the real thing in my opinion. As it is written - And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs of everlasting praise on their heads. - remembering the setting by S.S.Wesley - 

Isaiah 35:10

This translation is in a word order that might fit the contours of the music. It will be clear to a musician that there are lyric problems that arise when one tries to match the feel of the music to a foreign language. Sometimes one can just leave out a note or two and let the rhythm of the words carry the cantus firmus. I hope the restrictions of the harmonic structure will not prove too taxing. It is different from modern western music. It is not tonic-dominant - but tonic-subdominant, creating a different music. Working under such a constraint will provide some surprises too.

Isaiah 35

ank bva igh ihvh nvs nwg pdh raw rnn wmk (2) wvb wvw xivn yl ylm

וּפְדוּיֵ֨י יְהוָ֜ה יְשֻׁב֗וּן וּבָ֤אוּ צִיּוֹן֙ בְּרִנָּ֔ה וְשִׂמְחַ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יַשִּׂ֔יגוּ וְנָ֖סוּ יָג֥וֹן וַאֲנָחָֽה ס		10 And the ransomed of Yahweh will return and enter Zion with a shout of joy and gladness everlasting over their heads. Joy and mirth they will overtake, and sadness and sighing will withdraw.
i upduii ihvh iwubun ubau xion brinh vwmkt yolm yl-rawm wwon vwmkh iwigu vnsu igon vankh s	24 18	v/pd\vii ihvh i/wb\vn v/ba\v xivn b/rn\h v/wmk\t yvlm yl raw\m ww\vn v/wmk\h i/wg\v v/ns\v ig\vn v/ank\h