The music of Lamentations

 The raw data for the sequence of the accents in the Book of Lamentations. The count is the number of times this identical musical phrase occurs in the text of the Bible. This is an example of the data that is available in The Progression of the Music, Volume 10 of the series of books that I wrote on the Bible and its music. The scores, of course, can be found in the usual place(s).

Music to the midpoint or the whole phrase	Music from midpoint to tonic	Count	References
e B B rev,qad,B z-q,g# A	B rev,qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 1:1
e pas,ger,rev,qad,B e z-q,e f g# A	qad,qad,B z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:2
e pas,C qad,qad,B z-q,C B z-q,f g# A	f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:3
e pas,ger,rev,qad,B z-q,qad,qad,e z-q,g# A	f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:4
e pas,C qad,B z-q,e f g# B A	d f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:5
e f g# A	B rev,qad,B z-q,f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:6
e B rev,C qad,z-q,C z-q,f g# B A	c B rev,C qad,z-q,B z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:7
C e qad,B z-q,g# B A	e C qad,qad,B z-q,f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:8
e B rev,C e qad,z-q,B z-q,f g# A	C qad,z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:9
e qad,B z-q,g# A	e C qad,B z-q,B z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:10
e C qad,B z-q,c d g# B A	C qad,e z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:11
B zar,B seg,B rev,C qad,z-q,f g# A	qad,B z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:12
e d e f g# A	pas,C qad,B z-q,qad,qad,e z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 1:13
e t-q,pas,ger,rev,e d f g# B A	B z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:14
e pas,C qad,z-q,f d g# B A	C B z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 1:15
e B B rev,C qad,B z-q,e f d g# B A	C qad,e z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 1:16
e pas,ger,rev,C qad,z-q,c d g# B A	c d g# e	1	Lamentations 1:17
e f d g# B B A	B e rev,qad,z-q,f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:18
e C e qad,B z-q,f g# B A	e f qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 1:19
e pas,C e qad,B z-q,C qad,z-q,f g# A	f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:20
e tar,c B rev,C qad,z-q,pas,ger,C e qad,z-q,f g# A	f g# e f e	1	Lamentations 1:21
e pas,C qad,qad,B z-q,f d g# B A	e f g# f e	1	Lamentations 1:22
e t-q,pas,C qad,z-q,C qad,qad,z-q,g# A	f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:1
e pas,ger,B rev,C B z-q,c d f g# B A	f g# e	1	Lamentations 2:2
e B e rev,C B z-q,f d g# B A	C qad,B e z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:3
e pas,ger,rev,C qad,z-q,e z-q,g# A	qad,qad,z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 2:4
e pas,C qad,B z-q,qad,z-q,g# A	qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:5
e C qad,z-q,g# A	pas,C qad,B z-q,f e g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:6
e pas,C qad,B z-q,qad,z-q,g# A	d f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:7
e pas,C qad,B z-q,B z-q,f g# A	e f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:8
e C qad,qad,z-q,f g# A	pas,C qad,B z-q,z-g,f g# e	1	Lamentations 2:9
e pas,C qad,B z-q,e C qad,z-q,g# A	C qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:10
e pas,C qad,B z-q,C qad,qad,z-q,g# A	e C qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:11
e qad,e z-q,g# B A	e C e qad,B z-q,B z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:12
e tar,B rev,qad,B z-q,C qad,e z-q,g# A	e f d g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:13
e rev,C qad,B z-q,e f g# B A	B z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 2:14
e pas,C qad,qad,B z-q,e qad,B z-q,g# A	B rev,e qad,B z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:15
e pas,C qad,B z-q,e qad,e z-q,g# A	B f d g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:16
e pas,ger,B rev,C qad,B B e z-q,g# B A	C qad,qad,z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:17
e f g# A	B t-g,pas,C qad,B z-q,e C qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 2:18
B B rev,qad,z-q,C qad,qad,z-q,g# B A	c B rev,qad,qad,e z-q,f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:19
e C qad,e z-q,g# B A	pas,C qad,B z-q,d f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:20
e pas,C qad,B z-q,f g# B A	qad,qad,B z-q,g# f e	2	Lamentations 2:21
e t-q,pas,C qad,z-q,f d f g# B A	f g# f e	1	Lamentations 2:22
e C qad,qad,B z-q,g# e		2	Lamentations 3:1, 5:3
e f d g# f e		11	Lamentations 3:2, 3:5
B f d f g# e		1	Lamentations 3:3
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e f d g# f e		11	Lamentations 3:2, 3:5
e f g# f e		187	Lamentations 3:6, 3:15, 3:19, 3:54
e c d f g# f e		22	Lamentations 3:7, 3:49
B C qad,z-q,g# e		2	Lamentations 3:8, 3:33
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
B f qad,z-q,g# e		1	Lamentations 3:10
e f d e g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:11
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e qad,z-q,g# e		40	Lamentations 3:13, 3:23
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e f g# f e		187	Lamentations 3:6, 3:15, 3:19, 3:54
e C e qad,z-q,g# e		3	Lamentations 3:16, 3:44, 3:63
e c d g# f e		17	Lamentations 3:17, 3:30, 3:45
e qad,B z-q,g# e		26	Lamentations 3:18, 3:39, 5:14
e f g# f e		187	Lamentations 3:6, 3:15, 3:19, 3:54
e B z-q,f g# e		16	Lamentations 3:20
d f g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:21
e C qad,B z-q,f g# e		2	Lamentations 3:22
e qad,z-q,g# e		40	Lamentations 3:13, 3:23
e C qad,B z-q,g# f e		11	Lamentations 3:24, 5:19
C qad,z-q,g# e		4	Lamentations 3:25, 3:26, 5:18
C qad,z-q,g# e		4	Lamentations 3:25, 3:26, 5:18
B z-q,e f g# e		1	Lamentations 3:27
e C qad,z-q,f g# e		16	Lamentations 3:28
e C e qad,z-q,g# f e		5	Lamentations 3:29, 5:7
e c d g# f e		17	Lamentations 3:17, 3:30, 3:45
B f d g# e		1	Lamentations 3:31
B z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:32
B C qad,z-q,g# e		2	Lamentations 3:8, 3:33
e qad,B z-q,g# f e		23	Lamentations 3:34, 5:8, 5:11, 5:13
e qad,z-q,g# f e		3	Lamentations 3:35
e C qad,z-q,g# f e		13	Lamentations 3:36, 3:66
B C qad,z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:37
e C qad,B z-q,g# e		11	Lamentations 3:38, 3:59
e qad,B z-q,g# e		26	Lamentations 3:18, 3:39, 5:14
e C qad,qad,e z-q,g# e		1	Lamentations 3:40
e C qad,qad,z-q,g# e		4	Lamentations 3:41
C qad,qad,z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:42
e C qad,e z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:43
e C e qad,z-q,g# e		3	Lamentations 3:16, 3:44, 3:63
e c d g# f e		17	Lamentations 3:17, 3:30, 3:45
e f d g# e		5	Lamentations 3:46
c d f g# f e		3	Lamentations 3:47, 3:58
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# e		6	Lamentations 3:48, 3:57
e c d f g# f e		22	Lamentations 3:7, 3:49
e B z-q,g# e		35	Lamentations 3:50
e qad,e B z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:51
f d g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:52
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e f g# f e		187	Lamentations 3:6, 3:15, 3:19, 3:54
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e g# A	c d g# e	5	Lamentations 3:56
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# e		6	Lamentations 3:48, 3:57
c d f g# f e		3	Lamentations 3:47, 3:58
e C qad,B z-q,g# e		11	Lamentations 3:38, 3:59
e qad,qad,z-q,g# e		5	Lamentations 3:60
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e C qad,z-q,g# e		21	Lamentations 3:4, 3:9, 3:12, 3:14, 3:53, 3:55, 3:61, 3:62
e C e qad,z-q,g# e		3	Lamentations 3:16, 3:44, 3:63
e pas,f d g# f e		1	Lamentations 3:64
e C qad,z-q,e g# e		2	Lamentations 3:65
e C qad,z-q,g# f e		13	Lamentations 3:36, 3:66
e qad,B z-q,g# B A	qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:1
e C qad,z-q,g# A	C qad,z-q,g# f e	3	Lamentations 4:2
e qad,B z-q,g# A	B z-q,g# e	4	Lamentations 4:3
e pas,f d g# A	e qad,B z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 4:4
e qad,B z-q,g# A	qad,B z-q,g# e	5	Lamentations 4:5
e qad,B z-q,e g# A	e B z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 4:6
e C qad,qad,z-q,g# A	C qad,qad,z-q,g# e	2	Lamentations 4:7
e C qad,e z-q,f g# A	C qad,z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 4:8
e C qad,z-q,e g# A	B C qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:9
e rev,qad,B z-q,g# A	C qad,z-q,g# e	2	Lamentations 4:10
e C qad,z-q,g# B A	B z-q,g# e	3	Lamentations 4:11
C qad,qad,z-q,g# B A	C qad,B z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:12
e B z-q,g# A	f g# f e	10	Lamentations 4:13
e C qad,e z-q,e g# A	B e z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:14
B tar,B rev,C qad,qad,z-q,f g# A	e qad,z-q,f g# e	1	Lamentations 4:15
e C qad,z-q,f g# A	C qad,B z-q,g# f e	2	Lamentations 4:16
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# A	B z-q,g# f e	1	Lamentations 4:17
e B z-q,g# A	f d f g# f e	1	Lamentations 4:18
e C qad,z-q,g# A	B z-q,g# f e	4	Lamentations 4:19
C qad,qad,B z-q,g# A	B z-q,g# e f e	1	Lamentations 4:20
C qad,z-q,g# B A	qad,qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:21
e qad,z-q,f g# A	C qad,z-q,g# e	1	Lamentations 4:22
e C qad,e B z-q,g# f e		1	Lamentations 5:1
e qad,qad,e B z-q,g# e		1	Lamentations 5:2
e C qad,qad,B z-q,g# e		2	Lamentations 3:1, 5:3
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# f e		7	Lamentations 5:4, 5:6, 5:9, 5:10
C qad,qad,z-q,g# f e g# e		1	Lamentations 5:5
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# f e		7	Lamentations 5:4, 5:6, 5:9, 5:10
e C e qad,z-q,g# f e		5	Lamentations 3:29, 5:7
e qad,B z-q,g# f e		23	Lamentations 3:34, 5:8, 5:11, 5:13
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# f e		7	Lamentations 5:4, 5:6, 5:9, 5:10
e qad,qad,B z-q,g# f e		7	Lamentations 5:4, 5:6, 5:9, 5:10
e qad,B z-q,g# f e		23	Lamentations 3:34, 5:8, 5:11, 5:13
e qad,B z-q,f g# f e		6	Lamentations 5:12
e qad,B z-q,g# f e		23	Lamentations 3:34, 5:8, 5:11, 5:13
e qad,B z-q,g# e		26	Lamentations 3:18, 3:39, 5:14
e qad,B z-q,f g# e		4	Lamentations 5:15
e qad,B z-q,e f g# f e		2	Lamentations 5:16
e rev,C qad,z-q,g# f e		2	Lamentations 5:17
C qad,z-q,g# e		4	Lamentations 3:25, 3:26, 5:18
e C qad,B z-q,g# f e		11	Lamentations 3:24, 5:19
C qad,qad,z-q,e g# f e		1	Lamentations 5:20
e pas,C qad,qad,e z-q,f g# e		1	Lamentations 5:21
C B z-q,f g# e		2	Lamentations 5:22

The birth and formation of a people

The following article plays on the words נשא and נסע in the formation of Israel as a people in the book of Numbers. 

https://www.thetorah.com/article/israels-development-as-a-nation-form-storm-norm-perform.

It has struck me that the purpose of the Bible is the formation and birth of a people who are what I termed 'under the mercy' of God. This is one of my glosses for חסידים, ksidim, a word (incidentally with a synonym signifying the stork) derived from חסד, a word perhaps best illustrated with the story of Ruth the Moabite.

חסיד is most often used in David's Torah, the 5 fold Psalter, called תהילים, thilim, or praises, where I began my studies 15 years ago. The Psalms are definitely a book that is designed to form community, to build a people who are merciful, compassionate, and reflecting this character of God. The key verse for the character of i-h-v-h, God is Exodus 34:6. Allusions to this verse are found in many verses of the Psalms.

Pentecost has been called the birth of the church. Rather than looking on this event as a discontinuity in the story of God, we can see its patterns already in the First Testament. Two patterns in the formation of a people, first in Numbers and also reflecting the mercy and compassion of the God who formed them. (The bold indicates that the verse is from an acrostic. The letter is forced on the translator.)

thlim ch	Psalms 25	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
v zcor-rkmiç ihvh vksdiç ci myolm hmh	6 ז Zealous be in your compassions, Yahweh and your kindness, for they are from everlasting.		3e	4B	13 6
thlim na	Psalms 51	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
g konni alohim cksdç crob rkmiç mkh pwyii	3 Be gracious to me, O God according to your kindness. In the multitude of your compassions, wipe out my transgression.		3e	4B	10 11
thlim pv	Psalms 86	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
'tv vath adonii al-rkum vknun arç apiim vrb-ksd vamt	15 But you, O Lord God, are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in kindness and truth.		3e	4B	12 11
thlim qb	Psalms 102	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
id ath tqum trkm xion ci-yt lknnh ci-ba moyd	14 You yourself will arise. You will have compassion on Zion, for the time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come.		3e	4B	9 8
thlim qg	Psalms 103	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
d hgoal mwkt kiici hmy'trci ksd vrkmim	4 the redeeming of your life from destruction, crowning you with kindness and compassions,		3e	4B	9 10
k rkum vknun ihvh arç apiim vrb-ksd	8 Compassionate and gracious is Yahweh, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness.		3e	4B	7 8
thlim qia	Psalms 111	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
d zcr ywh lnplaotiv knun vrkum ihvh	4 Zoomed in to memory makes he his wonderful works, How gracious and compassionate is Yahweh.	B	3e	4B	9 7
thlim qib	Psalms 112	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
d zrk bkowç aor liwrim knun vrkum vxdiq	4 Zenith-bearing in the darkness there is light to the upright. He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.	~	3e	4C	9 8
thlim q'tz	Psalms 116	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
h knun ihvh vxdiq valohinu mrkm	5 Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, and our God is compassionate.		3e	4B	8 7
thlim qmh	Psalms 145	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
k knun vrkum ihvh arç apiim ugdol-ksd	8 How gracious and compassionate is Yahweh, slow to anger and of great kindness.		3e	4B	7 8

Psalms 17

What gives satisfaction?

thlim iz	Psalms 17	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
a tpilh ldvid wmyh ihvh xdq hqwibh rinti hazinh tpilti bla wpti mrmh	1 A prayer of David. Hear Yahweh righteousness. Attend to my shout. Give ear to my prayer, not from lips of deceit.		3e	4C	6 20 6
b mlpniç mwp'ti iixa yiniç tkzinh miwrim	2 From your presence emerges my judgment. Your eyes gaze on uprightness.	g	3e	4B	9 10
g bknt libi pqdt lilh xrptni bl-tmxa zmoti bl-iybor-pi	3 You have tested my heart. You have visited in the night. You have refined me till nothing is found. I intend that my mouth will not go beyond...	~	3e	4C	17 8
d lpyulot adm bdbr wptiç ani wmrti aorkot prix	4 About the works of humanity, in the word of your lips, I myself kept from the paths of one who breaks open.		3e	4B	11 9
h tmoç awurii bmyglotiç bl-nmo'tu pymii	5 Maintain my steps in your tracks. My footfall does not slip.		3e	4B	11 7
v ani-qratiç ci-tynni al h't-aoznç li wmy amrti	6 I myself have called you because you answer, O God. Bend your ear to me, hear my promise.		3e	4B	11 10
z hplh ksdiç mowiy kosim mmtqommim biminç	7 Reserve your kindness, you who save those who take refuge, from those who arise by your right hand.		3e	4B	11 8
k womrni caiwon bt-yin bxl cnpiç tstirni	8 Keep me as the daughter pictured in an eye. In the shadow of your wings, hide me,	g	3e	4B	9 10
't mpni rwyim zu wduni aoibii bnpw iqipu ylii	9 from the faces of the wicked that devastate me, hostile in being encompassing me.		3e	4B	9 10
i klbmo sgru pimo dibru bgaut	10 Their grossness, they imprison. Their mouth, they speak with pride.		3e	4A	5 7
ia awurinu yth sbbunu yinihm iwitu ln'tot barx	11 Our steps now, they surround us. They have their eyes set, bending over the earth.	g	3e	4B	10 11
ib dmiono carih icsof l'trof vccpir iowb bmstrim	12 Its likeness is like a lion that salivates to tear, and like a cub sitting in hidden places.		3e	4B	10 9
ig qumh ihvh qdmh pniv hcriyhu pl'th npwi mrwy krbç	13 Arise Yahweh, confront to its face. Make it bow down. Secure me from the wicked, your sword,		3e	4C	12 10
id mmtim idç ihvh mmtim mkld klqm bkiim uxpunç tmla b'tnm iwbyu bnim vhniku itrm lyollihm	14 from men, your hand, Yahweh, from men, from transience, their share in their lives, whose bellies you fill with your treasure. Let them be satisfied with children, and leave their surplus to their progeny.		3d	4A	24 5 10
'tv ani bxdq akzh pniç awbyh bhqix tmuntç	15 I in righteousness will gaze on your face. I will be satisfied to awaken in your similitude.		3e	4B	11 11

The music for this psalm is here. It opens with a great cry and strange definition of the cola of the first verse. The accents do not accentuate the obvious, but emphasize the last 6 syllables. Have a look at the rest as you read through the psalm. There is no performance available. Do one if you want to, please.

The cost of kindness

Marc Zvi Brettler asks if the death of the righteous is precious in the eyes of i-h-v-h? I have great respect for Marc and his work, but in this article, he is not carrying the verse to its necessary conclusion: 

1. the cost to God of creation, and 
2. the character of i-h-v-h  (Psalms 111) and the one who fears i-h-v-h (Psalms 112)
3. the thrust of the purpose of the psalms: to form a people who are similarly kind and merciful, i.e. who are in the image and likeness of i-h-v-h. 

It should be no surprise that we humans have difficulty living up to this vocation into which we are invited, whether to write of it or to do it.

First, Marc suggests that Psalms 116:15 is a question. Is it a question? Answer: no. The verse may raise a question in the reader, but it answers it in the affirmative. 

Marc carefully points out, that a question does not need an explicit interrogative, but can be based on tone of voice. Let's see if this could apply in this case. I set part of this psalm to the music of the te'amim with verse 5 as a chorus reflecting the cost to i-h-v-h of creation. (I did not set that exact verse. It reads well as part of the sequence from 110-117, the psalms around which I based my oratorio, Unleashing Leviathan.)

Marc accurately points out the medieval responses to the question raised by this verse. But let's look first at the words: 

iqr byini ihvh 
hmvvth lksidiv

I have no quarrel with iqr glossed as precious, perhaps even rare since the ksid (the one who is merciful) is rare. But ksid should not be rendered as righteous. The ksid (one under mercy) may be declared righteous (xdq / xdiq). But the text does not say righteous in this verse.

So I read it thus:

Precious in the eyes of Yahweh,
is the death of those under his mercy.

Words eventually matter. ksid is derived from ksd which I translate simply as kind, kindness or mercy. 

Now consider the music: Position the pdf at verse 15 (or see below). Note that 15b (bars 71-72) is two words only. The musical phrase is a recitation on the subdominant and a direct return to the tonic. There is no chance of a question in the tone of voice. The subdominant is a restful reciting note. Recitation on the reciting note defined by the atnah is not uncommon. But here it occurs on three consecutive verses, 14, 15, and 16. I must lay out the data for you because it is complex yet also consistently straightforward.

thlim q'tz	Psalms 116	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
a ahbti ci-iwmy ihvh at-qoli tknunii	1 I love, for Yahweh heard, the voice of my supplication.	g	3e	4A	8 7
b ci-h'th aozno li ubimii aqra	2 For he bent his ear to me, and in my days I will call.		3e	4B	5 5
g appuni kbli-mvvt umxri waol mxauni xrh vigon amxa	3 The pangs of death enveloped me and anguish of Sheol found me. Trouble and sadness I find.		3e	4C	16 7
d ubwm-ihvh aqra anh ihvh ml'th npwi	4 So in the name of Yahweh I will call, beseeching, Yahweh, make an escape for my being.		3e	4A	6 8
h knun ihvh vxdiq valohinu mrkm	5 Gracious is Yahweh and righteous, and our God is compassionate.		3e	4B	8 7
v womr ptiim ihvh dloti vli ihowiy	6 Yahweh keeps the simple. I was brought low and me he saves.		3e	4B	8 9
z wubi npwi lmnukiici ci-ihvh gml yliici	7 Return, O my being, to your rest, for Yahweh has matured you.		3e	4B	8 9
k ci kilxt npwi mmvvt at-yini mn-dmyh at-rgli mdki	8 For he rescued my being from death, my eyes from tears, my foot from tripping.	C	3e	4C	9 6 6
't athlç lpni ihvh barxot hkiim	9 I will walk in the presence of Yahweh, in the lands of the living.	g	3e	4B	7 6
i hamnti ci adbr ani yniti maod	10 I believed so I spoke. I myself was much afflicted.	g	3e	4B	8 7
ia ani amrti bkopzi cl-hadm cozb	11 I myself said in my haste, Every human lies.	g	3e	4B	8 6
ib mh-awib lihvh cl-tgmulohi ylii	12 What will I return to Yahweh, for all his benefits to me?		3e	4A	5 7
ig cos-iwuyot awa ubwm ihvh aqra	13 The cup of salvation I will bear, so in the name of Yahweh I will call.		3e	4B	6 6
id ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo	14 My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people.	g	3e	4B	8 7
'tv iqr byini ihvh hmvvth lksidiv	15 Precious in the eyes of Yahweh, is the death of those under his mercy.	g	3e	4B	7 7
'tz anh ihvh ci-ani ybdç ani-ybdç bn-amtç pitkt lmosrii	16 Yahweh beseeching, for I myself am your servant, I myself your servant and child of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.		3d	4B	9 9 7
iz lç-azbk zbk todh ubwm ihvh aqra	17 To you I will offer the offering of thanksgiving, so in the name of Yahweh I will call.		3e	4B	8 6
ik ndrii lihvh awlm ngdh-na lcl-ymo	18 My vows to Yahweh I will pay, may it be before all his people,	g	3e	4B	8 7
i't bkxrot bit ihvh btocci iruwlim hllu-ih	19 in the courts of the house of Yahweh, in your centre, O Jerusalem. Hallelu Yah.		3e	4C	17

verses 1, 9, 14, 15, 16, and 18 all have identical musical shape in the second colon returning from the subdominant to the tonic. A ger-rev,e. The sequence A-e as a final phrase occurs 57 times in the 21 prose books. In the poetry books, the particular sequence with the revia-mugrash (ger-rev) occurs 507 times (14% of verses). The sequence of notes in verse 15 occurs in 75 verses of the poetry books (Psalms, Proverbs, Job). If my thesis is correct, then you will find each of these verses has a sense of rest in the final half verse. So above for the verses in question, sing them and hear that sense. Read them with that tone of voice. They are never questions.

What is the question raised by verse 15? Is this verse noted in the New Testament? (Marc, with Amy-Jill Levine, is one of the two editors of the Jewish Annotated New Testament.) A strongly allusive verse Revelation 14:13, reflects the sense of Psalms 116:15. The footnotes in my first edition of the JANT do not mention the psalm allusion. I think this is an oversight. The New Testament has the same rationale behind it as the Psalms: creating a community that shows kindness and embodies mercy.

This psalm begins with the completeness of love, I love, for i-h-v-h heard, // the voice of my supplication. So the poet is willing to 'pay my vows' ngdh-na lcl-ymo, in public, please, before all the people. The poet will 'walk in the lands of the living', note the plural, barxot hkiim. The poet says to i-h-v-h, 'You have loosed my bonds.' Each of these half verses has identical music.

Psalms 116:15b the death of those under his mercy

Needless to say, no one, the churches in their present forms, Israel in its present form, any group that goes by the name of violence, or any group that works with imperialist motives has succeeded in this costly endeavour. 

Let us redefine what we mean when we say ksidim (trad Chasidim or equivalent)- mercy and kindness - not righteousness necessarily, but leading to such a maturity (verse 7). I think we could all agree that kindness is desirable. The question is whether anyone is willing to bear the cost. That is the rare aspect.

Who dares to speak that first verse? I love (open-ended without direct object). Without such love, there are no vows to pay, bonds are not loosed, and we do not walk in the lands of the living.

Psalms 16

This post replaces a draft of Psalm 16 from 2011.09.13-09:48. How curious it is to review posts from 10 years ago. The first published post I came across was a freeform translation I did in 2014 and then another post in 2015. Here's the style from 2011. I had not yet figured out what I would do with the name i-h-v-h. I knew for sure I would not substitute the title Lord in any form or special typeset. Now I think just the letters will do and a realization that it has something to do with being and becoming, yet, I hasten to add, ihvh is not time-dependent.

The pleasures and the right hand

in which the elect reveals the tension inherent in the world and chooses the refuge, the portion, and the secure place of trust in which he or she will not be moved and where there is satisfaction of joys in the presence of יְהוָה

Verse 1 calls this psalm a mictam. It is the first of 6, the other 5 being psalms 56-60, three of which are to the tune 'do not destroy'. 

Here's another paragraph essentially from 2011 (with the language slightly updated to use the SimHebrew Latin letter mapping):

There are three words suggested for the root mictam: inscription related to כתם ctb (to write), golden related to ctm and atonement related to Akkadian ctm to cover (not the Hebrew cpr which almost sounds like English cover). Being uncertain, I used all three suggestions. Each of them has its attractions. It has to be gold because it speaks (if silently) of ultimate satisfaction at God's right hand. Silent because such things cannot be spoken. Of atonement since it is about being at one, not being abandoned, not being subject to chance, not being without hope, yet it knows of such abandonment, chance, and despair. But it is only one word. Some translations leave it as Miktam. Craigie suggests reference to Jeremiah 2:22 translating your iniquity is inscribed before me. 

Note the recurrence of ks in the Psalm. Mercy and refuge are closely related in the family of roots beginning with ks. This psalm is referenced in Acts 2:25-28, 2:31, 13:35.

At the time, I was also asking whether the psalter is a book the plot and theme and purpose of which can be discerned. 

This was my third time reading the psalter in Hebrew. My second reading began after my first. My first began in 2006 after the conference on The epistle to the Hebrews and theology at St Andrews, where I realized for the first time that the psalms are dialogue between father and son and therefore between 'the Father' and 'the elect of all ages'. Seeing this, one realizes eventually how great is the depth of gratitude the elect of a later age owe to the writers and copiers of the canon - with a dose of shrewdness of course. (And that theme appears in this psalm in what is perhaps an idiomatic phrase - in the earth = gone before. Maybe there are other uses - like 2 Samuel 7:9).

Here's what's in the database today. There is a performance of the music here. And a pdf here. This is the only place in my translation where I used that (13th century?) coinage, atonement.

thlim 'tz	Psalms 16	Fn	Min	Max	Syll
a mctm ldvid womrni al ci-ksiti bç	1 From gold, concerning atonement, through inscription, of David. Keep me O God for I take refuge in you.		3e	4A	5 8
b amrt lihvh adonii ath 'tobti bl-yliç	2 You said to Yahweh, You are my Lord, my good pales beside you.		3e	4B	10 7
g lqdowim awr-barx hmh vadiri cl-kpxi-bm	3 About the holy ones that are in the earth, of them, and of majesties ... Is all my delight in them?	g	3e	4B	10 8
d irbu yxbotm akr mhru bl-asiç nscihm mdm ubl-awa at-wmotm yl-wptii	4 Let their idols increase. Following they rush headlong. I will not spill out their libations with blood, neither will I bear their names on my lips.		3d	4B	10 8 12
h ihvh mnt-klqi vcosi ath tomiç gorli	5 Yahweh is the portion of my share and my cup. You yourself maintain my lot.		3e	4A	9 7
v kblim nplu-li bnyimim af-nklt wprh ylii	6 Pledges have fallen to me in pleasures. Indeed for me there is a glistening inheritance.		3e	4B	9 8
z abrç at-ihvh awr iyxni af-lilot iisruni cliotii	7 I will bless Yahweh who advises me. Indeed in the nights my vital centre chastens me.		3e	4B	12 9
k wivviti ihvh lngdi tmid ci mimini bl-amo't	8 I have agreed with Yahweh in front of me continually, for he is at my right hand. I will not be moved.		3e	4B	10 7
't lcn wmk libi vigl cbodi af-bwri iwcon lb'tk	9 So my heart will be glad and my glory rejoice. Indeed my flesh will dwell in trust.		3e	4C	12 9
i ci la-tyzob npwi lwaol la-titn ksidç lraot wkt	10 For you will not forsake me to the grave. You will not permit one within your mercy to see destruction.	C	3e	4C	8 9
ia todiyni aork kiim woby wmkot at-pniç nyimot biminç nxk	11 You will make known to me a path of life, satisfaction of gladness in your presence, pleasures at your right hand always.		3e	4C	8 9 8