I have begun to work on a semantic dictionary of the Psalter. With four or five hours work I threw a bunch of words into 'categories' - somewhat randomly chosen.
There are now about 50 with varying counts of the 1400 or so roots and 19500 or so words of the Psalter. All in all, it's a bit arbitrary - but useful. I found a few anomalies and will find more. Good tool for refining one's thoughts.
The list is here under the title test of domains of interest, with the selected glosses - evolving...
Monday, 20 February 2012
Saturday, 18 February 2012
God the multitasker
Elizabeth Renzetti is worth sharing this morning from this morning's Globe and Mail, thank You
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Project Status
Friends - where am I? It has been over a month since I reported in on the big project: to produce the book that I wanted to have when I began learning the Hebrew of the Psalms. The project is continuing. I am working towards a book in shades of grey instead of colour. 450-500 pages is too much for colour printing. So I have changed the way I display tables of keywords and added borders to allow easier perception on the vertical dimension of the apparatus.
Book 3 is submitted to one Hebrew academic expert who has already been a great help. Book 2 is submitted to another with a ready-red-pencil. I will be submitting the other books to some more of my PhD friends, but those who have volunteered are first philosophers and discourse analysts. I am short of Hebrew readers. Any of you academics who would like to may volunteer to review a draft of Book 4 or Book 5 (or everything). Book 1 is under the editing eye of my wife. She didn't exactly say she was enjoying it - but her criticism of gloss and grammar is important. Over the next 6 months, she plans to do 10 psalms a week - that's 260 altogether :).
I am targeting a publication date of March 2013, ready for a semi-planned trip - who knows with a printer in every location for instant book production.
Volunteer readers - you will enjoy the reading - guaranteed. Because the Hebrew and English are cheek by jowl and the apparatus is so revealing of the text, the units are really fun to look at. I have been reading other translations that do not have the Hebrew beside them. There is no comparison. For a close reading, the di-glot is a much happier experience, even if there is a mistake in form or judgment in the translation.
Here's why I need help:
Book 3 is submitted to one Hebrew academic expert who has already been a great help. Book 2 is submitted to another with a ready-red-pencil. I will be submitting the other books to some more of my PhD friends, but those who have volunteered are first philosophers and discourse analysts. I am short of Hebrew readers. Any of you academics who would like to may volunteer to review a draft of Book 4 or Book 5 (or everything). Book 1 is under the editing eye of my wife. She didn't exactly say she was enjoying it - but her criticism of gloss and grammar is important. Over the next 6 months, she plans to do 10 psalms a week - that's 260 altogether :).
I am targeting a publication date of March 2013, ready for a semi-planned trip - who knows with a printer in every location for instant book production.
Volunteer readers - you will enjoy the reading - guaranteed. Because the Hebrew and English are cheek by jowl and the apparatus is so revealing of the text, the units are really fun to look at. I have been reading other translations that do not have the Hebrew beside them. There is no comparison. For a close reading, the di-glot is a much happier experience, even if there is a mistake in form or judgment in the translation.
Here's why I need help:
- I am still only six years old
- The notes need purging of my subjective comments (sometimes)
- Notes and translation were done over a five year period. Bayard's virtual library becomes a factor in my own memory. Sometimes the notes reflect an earlier stage of the translation.
- My translations contain blunders worth finding even for the humour. Bob - you can't say it that way!
I am not reading as much or blogging as much these days. I am experimenting with page layout - but last night at Bible study, I noted that my Hebrew reading is not as awkward as it was 6 months ago. After a while, maybe it improves by itself.
I am maintaining the text in database and private blog, thence to Word and PDF one psalm at a time. It's a juggling act, but the control over the changes that is possible with the database is a vital ingredient in staying sane.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Psalm 19 setting of the text finished
I have spent more than a month figuring out an accompaniment for my text of Psalm 19 - what a lesson in space and counterpoint! I had help as noted in the dedication on the pdf. David Stratkauskas, Organist and Choir Director from St John the Divine, Victoria BC gave me some lessons in composing accompaniment. Jerry Mcdonald and the St Barnabas choir have been through several versions with great patience and hopefulness. What a crew! The workshop experience was invaluable.
If you want to perform this music March 11 when Psalm 19 is part of the common lectionary (or whenever), please let me know. All you need is a unison choir, an organist, and someone to play the flute.
I tried embedding the mp3 but it started and restarted and there were no controls - its sound was everywhere in canon with itself. quite funny. Obviously it is not a trivial task to get the embed code right.
Trying again... added some html
hmmm - at least there's silence while I am typing.
and removed it Not sure of the above - so ...
trying again
If you want to perform this music March 11 when Psalm 19 is part of the common lectionary (or whenever), please let me know. All you need is a unison choir, an organist, and someone to play the flute.I tried embedding the mp3 but it started and restarted and there were no controls - its sound was everywhere in canon with itself. quite funny. Obviously it is not a trivial task to get the embed code right.
Trying again... added some html
hmmm - at least there's silence while I am typing.
and removed it Not sure of the above - so ...
trying again
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
A 24 hour holiday and where am I?
The world-class dining room was closed so we had supper at a local place, Markus's - very nice, black cod on potato salad, and seared scallops on risotto - both superb, and a bottle of Santa Rita Cab. Sauv. But there was no need for coffee and desert since we could make decaf coffee in our room, and there were, after all, all those cookies!
Today, after a large continental breakfast (included in the hotel room), we walked the Whiffen spit and later we had a lunch of the leftover scones from breakfast on the beach at the Devonian Park.
Now, back on the computer, I am assessing my status on my 7 year project to translate the Psalms and to display all their recurring words. We are in year 6. I have spent the last month trying to remember how to write accompaniment for piano or organ for my setting of Psalm 19. It is more done than not done, I think. I intend to continue composing. It is a test for the translation and its rhythms. Maybe I will come up with a hit tune!
Over at Poetry of Christ, notes are appearing on the translations every day for the current group of psalms, the psalms of ascent, and every 3 or four days for the rest. Scheduled completion - last week of March 2012. I continue to adjust the translations subject to critical feedback from several sources - on notes, on translation decisions and glosses, and on appropriate means of presentation of rhetorical criticism. (And I keep coming across articles that I really should reference.)
Nice to have a day off. I think I will take another one on Monday - off to Vancouver to see two of my sons.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Revisiting Jonah, The Fury Part Two, aka The Tender Plant, 4:6-10
Here is the story of the tender plant, the worm, and the sultry east wind. Each one was appointed by יְהוָה God, the first to deliver Jonah from his evil, so that he might be glad for himself, the next two to strike so that he might lose his fury over the comfort of others more ignorant than him.
The unique aspect of this section is clearly
It is tied by fury to the prior section.
The child of the night, stressing transience, closes the child frame opened in the first chapter. Jonah's patronym makes him a child of truth. The great city, Nineveh, is also a frame for the story.
So at the end of this revisitation of a delightfully serious and comical tale, I have revised my mnemonics for the whole poem slightly. The first two chapters, encompassing the city with the sea and windy (spirit) tempest and the havoc of hurling actions, are comprised of: The Descent, The Dice, The Mortals and The Fish. The Mortals anticipate Nineveh, its turning, and its belonging to God. The second two chapters are comprised of The Day, The Turn, The Fury (not God's but Jonah's), parts 1 and 2. Unlike Jonah, the king leads his people in the turning and God turns in comfort (sighing) to them. Such turning is evil for Jonah. Evil, used as a frame when the seafarers turn and again in this chapter, ties together chapters 1 and 4. Jonah succeeds in bringing evil upon others and in knowing it in himself.
The unique aspect of this section is clearly
The Tender Plant
It is tied by fury to the prior section.
The child of the night, stressing transience, closes the child frame opened in the first chapter. Jonah's patronym makes him a child of truth. The great city, Nineveh, is also a frame for the story.
So at the end of this revisitation of a delightfully serious and comical tale, I have revised my mnemonics for the whole poem slightly. The first two chapters, encompassing the city with the sea and windy (spirit) tempest and the havoc of hurling actions, are comprised of: The Descent, The Dice, The Mortals and The Fish. The Mortals anticipate Nineveh, its turning, and its belonging to God. The second two chapters are comprised of The Day, The Turn, The Fury (not God's but Jonah's), parts 1 and 2. Unlike Jonah, the king leads his people in the turning and God turns in comfort (sighing) to them. Such turning is evil for Jonah. Evil, used as a frame when the seafarers turn and again in this chapter, ties together chapters 1 and 4. Jonah succeeds in bringing evil upon others and in knowing it in himself.
וַיְמַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים קִיקָיוֹן וַיַּעַל מֵעַל לְיוֹנָה לִהְיוֹת צֵל עַל רֹאשׁוֹ לְהַצִּיל לוֹ מֵרָעָתוֹ וַיִּשְׂמַח יוֹנָה עַל הַקִּיקָיוֹן שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה | 4.6 | and יְהוָה God appointed a tender plant and made it come up over Jonah to become shade over his head to deliver him from his evil and Jonah was glad for the tender plant he was very glad |
וַיְמַן הָאֱלֹהִים תּוֹלַעַת בַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר לַמָּחֳרָת וַתַּךְ אֶת הַקִּיקָיוֹן וַיִּיבָשׁ | 4.7 | and God appointed a worm as the dawn came up in the morning and it struck the tender plant and it dried up |
וַיְהִי כִּזְרֹחַ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וַיְמַן אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ קָדִים חֲרִישִׁית וַתַּךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עַל רֹאשׁ יוֹנָה וַיִּתְעַלָּף וַיִּשְׁאַל אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ לָמוּת וַיֹּאמֶר טוֹב מוֹתִי מֵחַיָּי | 4.8 | and it happened when the sun shone and God appointed a sultry east wind and the sun struck Jonah's head and he fainted and he wished his being to die and he said death is good compared with my life |
וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֶל יוֹנָה הַהֵיטֵב חָרָה לְךָ עַל הַקִּיקָיוֹן וַיֹּאמֶר הֵיטֵב חָרָה לִי עַד מָוֶת | 4.9 | and God said to Jonah is it good for you to be furious over the tender plant? and he said it is good for me to be furious even to death |
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אַתָּה חַסְתָּ עַל הַקִּיקָיוֹן אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָמַלְתָּ בּוֹ וְלֹא גִדַּלְתּוֹ שֶׁבִּן לַיְלָה הָיָה וּבִן לַיְלָה אָבָד | 4.10 | and יְהוָה said you yourself showed pity for the tender plant that you did not toil for and did not make grow1 that happened as a child of the night and as a child of the night perished |
וַאֲנִי לֹא אָחוּס עַל נִינְוֵה הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה אֲשֶׁר יֶשׁ בָּהּ הַרְבֵּה מִשְׁתֵּים-שְׂרֵה רִבּוֹ אָדָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדַע בֵּין יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ וּבְהֵמָה רַבָּה ש | 4.11 | and I, will I not show pity to Nineveh the great city? for there are in her more than 12 ten-thousands of humans who cannot tell their right hand from their left and also many cattle ש |
1or make great
Jonah 4:6-11
This petulant prophet appears to be devoid of tenderness. But at least he is forthright. He knows his fury. God's mercy lies outside the human idea of fair or due reward. Jonah does not really like the good of creation, though he is glad enough for himself. His reaction is quite different from Job's. Job is ultimately seen to be both tender and right. Job changes. We don't know about Jonah. We are left with a question probably directed at ourselves. The inconsequential child of the night, the tender plant, is given to deliver Jonah from his evil.
Does the technique of observing the sequences and circles of repeating words help in memorizing this story? It has certainly made me read it with greater care than I did 40 odd years ago when I was asked to present this book at a conference (O how unprepared I was for that experience).
There are still many questions for me when I consider Jonah as 'the only sign to be given to this generation' (Matthew 16:4, Luke 11:29). What, for example, about the 'pilot', the chief of the encumbered band of seafarers? Why that phrase רַב הַחֹבֵל, surely an odd word for the quartermaster, or what is the significance of the one who descends paying the fare for the ship - her fare? Perhaps there are mortals who could comment. Is the foot-washing modeled after the actions of the king of Nineveh?
Halleluyah from the heart of God (Christopher Smart Jubilate Agno)
And from the hand of the artist inimitable,
And from the echo of the heavenly harp.
In sweetness magnifical and mighty.
Selected recurring words in relative order (6 to 11)
| Word and gloss * first usage | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 2 | Vs | Root |
וימן and appointed | ░ | 6 | מנה | |||||||||||||||||||||
יהוה יהוה | ░ | 6 | יהוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
אלהים God | ░ | 6 | אלוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
קיקיון a tender plant | ░ | 6 | קיקיון | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויעל and made it come up | ░ | 6 | עלה | |||||||||||||||||||||
ליונה Jonah | ░ | 6 | יונה | |||||||||||||||||||||
להיות to become | ░ | 6 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||
ראשׁו his head | ░ | 6 | ראשׁ | |||||||||||||||||||||
וישׂמח and was glad | ░ | 6 | שׂמח | |||||||||||||||||||||
יונה Jonah | ░ | 6 | יונה | |||||||||||||||||||||
הקיקיון the tender plant | ░ | 6 | קיקיון | |||||||||||||||||||||
שׂמחה he was glad | ░ | 6 | שׂמח | |||||||||||||||||||||
גדולה very | ░ | 6 | גדל | |||||||||||||||||||||
וימן and appointed | ░ | 7 | מנה | |||||||||||||||||||||
האלהים God | ░ | 7 | אלוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
בעלות as came up | ░ | 7 | בעל | |||||||||||||||||||||
ותך and it struck | ░ | 7 | נכה | |||||||||||||||||||||
הקיקיון the tender plant | ░ | 7 | קיקיון | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויהי and it happened | ░ | 8 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||
השׁמשׁ the sun | ░ | 8 | שׁמשׁ | |||||||||||||||||||||
וימן and appointed | ░ | 8 | מנה | |||||||||||||||||||||
אלהים God | ░ | 8 | אלוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
ותך and struck | ░ | 8 | נכה | |||||||||||||||||||||
השׁמשׁ the sun | ░ | 8 | שׁמשׁ | |||||||||||||||||||||
ראשׁ head | ░ | 8 | ראשׁ | |||||||||||||||||||||
יונה Jonah's | ░ | 8 | יונה | |||||||||||||||||||||
למות to die | ░ | 8 | מות | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויאמר and he said | ░ | 8 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||
מותי death is | ░ | 8 | מות | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויאמר and said | ░ | 9 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||
אלהים God | ░ | 9 | אלוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
יונה Jonah | ░ | 9 | יונה | |||||||||||||||||||||
ההיטב is it good | ░ | 9 | יטב | |||||||||||||||||||||
חרה to be furious | ░ | 9 | חרה | |||||||||||||||||||||
הקיקיון the tender plant | ░ | 9 | קיקיון | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויאמר and he said | ░ | 9 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||
היטב it is good | ░ | 9 | יטב | |||||||||||||||||||||
חרה to be furious | ░ | 9 | חרה | |||||||||||||||||||||
מות death | ░ | 9 | מות | |||||||||||||||||||||
ויאמר and said | ░ | 10 | אמר | |||||||||||||||||||||
יהוה יהוה | ░ | 10 | יהוה | |||||||||||||||||||||
חסת showed pity | ░ | 10 | חוס | |||||||||||||||||||||
הקיקיון the tender plant | ░ | 10 | קיקיון | |||||||||||||||||||||
אשׁר that | ░ | 10 | אשׁר | |||||||||||||||||||||
לא not | ░ | 10 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||
ולא and not | ░ | 10 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||
גדלתו you did make grow | ░ | 10 | גדל | |||||||||||||||||||||
שׁבן as a child of | ░ | 10 | בן | |||||||||||||||||||||
לילה the night | ░ | 10 | לילה | |||||||||||||||||||||
היה happened | ░ | 10 | היה | |||||||||||||||||||||
ובן and as a child of | ░ | 10 | בן | |||||||||||||||||||||
לילה the night | ░ | 10 | לילה | |||||||||||||||||||||
לא not | ░ | 11 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||
אחוס will I show pity | ░ | 11 | חוס | |||||||||||||||||||||
הגדולה great | ░ | 11 | גדל | |||||||||||||||||||||
אשׁר for | ░ | 11 | אשׁר | |||||||||||||||||||||
הרבה more than | ░ | 11 | רב | |||||||||||||||||||||
אשׁר who | ░ | 11 | אשׁר | |||||||||||||||||||||
לא cannot | ░ | 11 | לא | |||||||||||||||||||||
רבה many | ░ | 11 | רב |
Does the technique of observing the sequences and circles of repeating words help in memorizing this story? It has certainly made me read it with greater care than I did 40 odd years ago when I was asked to present this book at a conference (O how unprepared I was for that experience).
There are still many questions for me when I consider Jonah as 'the only sign to be given to this generation' (Matthew 16:4, Luke 11:29). What, for example, about the 'pilot', the chief of the encumbered band of seafarers? Why that phrase רַב הַחֹבֵל, surely an odd word for the quartermaster, or what is the significance of the one who descends paying the fare for the ship - her fare? Perhaps there are mortals who could comment. Is the foot-washing modeled after the actions of the king of Nineveh?
Halleluyah from the heart of God (Christopher Smart Jubilate Agno)
And from the hand of the artist inimitable,
And from the echo of the heavenly harp.
In sweetness magnifical and mighty.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Jerusalem Imax Video
It is likely that we will visit Jerusalem again in 2013 - to an as yet unannounced festival at Hebrew University. This film in the meanwhile is a nice piece of work. What is the monastery to the west? (HT James McGrath)
Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemTheMovie on Vimeo.
Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemTheMovie on Vimeo.
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