Psalm 119 - Part 11 Grammar

Kaf - reading the word backwards, I chose F for my first letter. OK? When the ancients copied the text, they were ever so careful. I copy and paste in so many ways words, letters, paragraphs, tables, and in various technologies some of which pretend to be able to distinguish their left from their right hands, and I am careful - but I sometimes misplace whole words. They slip between the splices of the html tags. If you see a missing word, it is probably not there :-)

Faints my being in your salvation I have hoped in your word	כָּלְתָה לִתְשׁוּעָתְךָ נַפְשִׁי  לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי
Faint my eyes for your promise saying continually when will you comfort me	כָּלוּ עֵינַי לְאִמְרָתֶךָ לֵאמֹר מָתַי תְּנַחֲמֵנִי
For I have become like a bottle holding vapor I have not forgotten your statutes	כִּי הָיִיתִי כְּנֹאד בְּקִיטוֹר חֻקֶּיךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי
For how are the days of your servant when will you do judgment against my persecutors	כַּמָּה יְמֵי עַבְדֶּךָ מָתַי תַּעֲשֶׂה בְרֹדְפַי מִשְׁפָּט
For me those proud ones dig pits that are not like your teaching	כָּרוּ לִי זֵדִים שִׁיחוֹת אֲשֶׁר לֹא כְתוֹרָתֶךָ
Faithful are all your commandments falsehood! they persecute me - help me	כָּל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי
For nearly they make me faint on the earth but I myself do not forsake your precepts	כִּמְעַט כִּלּוּנִי בָאָרֶץ וַאֲנִי לֹא עָזַבְתִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ
For your loving kindness let me live and I will keep the testimony of your mouth for ever	כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדוּת פִּיךָ לְעוֹלָם

My details are less mechanical this time and more thoughtful - even defensive of my strange translation style. But I must keep up the grammatical grind - it is still surprising and it is possible to slip up!

kaltah	כָּלְתָה	Faints	Anticipating the role of taf in forming a bridge between awkward words and enclitics, the taf here introduces the third person feminine ending (agreeing with the subject 'my being/soul'). The ה is not part of the root כלה in this case but the third person feminine suffix.
litshvu`atka	לִתְשׁוּעָתְךָ	for/in? your salvation	in rather than for - prepositions are weird, stretchable, flexible and often ignored. What am I fainting for? Is the לִ to, of, in, on account of, or what? Is it possessed or desired? Do we know that? (to might work here and below)
nàpshy	נַפְשִׁי	my being	soul is a lovely word but it is not immaterial - it is the full bodily life of the poet/reader/you/me
lidbarka	לִדְבָרְךָ	In your word	Look at that - there's that לִ and I seem to have made it ='in' again! Well = is too strong. Belonging might be better - which is why I like 'in' in these cases
yixalty	יִחָלְתִּי	I have hoped
kalvu	כָּלוּ	Faint	they faint - subject to follow
`éynày	עֵינַי	my eyes	Plural? could you tell the difference between plural and singular when there is a first person possessive pronoun?
l)imrateka	לְאִמְרָתֶךָ	for your promise	the active taf again forming an easy to say link with the suffix
lé)mor	לֵאמֹר	saying continually	not sure why I added continually! (true enough though - pestering is part of prayer)
matày	מָתַי	when	where does this word comprised all of grammatical letters come from? BDB says this is always of future time.
tnàxamény	תְּנַחֲמֵנִי	will you comfort me	intense prayer if one sometimes wonders if there is a future...
ky hayyty	כִּי הָיִיתִי	for I have become like	so the situation of the poet is revealed
kno)d	כְּנֹאד	a bottle	here is a lovely use of the prefixed kaf as a maker of similes
bqy+vor	בְּקִיטוֹר	holding vapour	it's hard to get away from the bottle in the smoke of the AV!
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes
lo)	לֹא	not
shakaxty	שָׁכָחְתִּי	have I forgotten	not forgetting is an adequate defense
kàmah	כַּמָּה	for how are	I guess it is not surprising that our playful poet would use the prefix for some of these verses (three of eight)
yméy `àbdeka	יְמֵי עַבְדֶּךָ	the days of your servant
matày	מָתַי	When
tà`aseh	תַּעֲשֶׂה	will you do	do is awkward but ...
brodpày	בְרֹדְפַי	for my persecutors	Here is a preposition that does not mean 'for' - usually 'in' - which might be good. For if judgment has been done 'in' the poet, then this would be praying for the same benefit (learned with difficulty) for the persecutor
mishpa+	מִשְׁפָּט	judgment
karvu ly	כָּרוּ לִי	for me they dig	for? in the sense of the depression belongs to the poet
zédym	זֵדִים	those proud ones
shyxvot	שִׁיחוֹת	pits	Is it too much to think that the poet gets depressed in these thoughts
)asher lo)	אֲשֶׁר לֹא	that are not
ktvorateka	כְתוֹרָתֶךָ	like your instruction	'like' is better than the English common 'of'
kal micvoteyka	כָּל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	all your commandments
)emvunah	אֱמוּנָה	faithful are	listed as a noun, used as an adjective
sheqr	שֶׁקֶר	falsehood	there is no 'in' here - in English I find prepositions creep in almost unconsciously
rdapvuny	רְדָפוּנִי	they persecute me	third person plural perfect with first person pronoun as direct object
`azrény	עָזְרֵנִי	help me	imperative with first person pronoun as direct object
kim`à+	כִּמְעַט	for scarcely
kilvuny	כִּלּוּנִי	they make me faint	third person plural piel perfect with first person pronoun as direct object
ba)arec	בָאָרֶץ	on the earth	this could be in the earth
và)any lo) `azàbty	וַאֲנִי לֹא עָזַבְתִּי	but I, I do not leave	as in the prior part, the stand-alone pronoun is used
piqudeyka	פִקֻּדֶיךָ	your precepts
kxàsdka	כְּחַסְדְּךָ	for your loving kindness
xàyény	חַיֵּנִי	let me live	many uses of the pronoun as direct object
v)eshmrah	וְאֶשְׁמְרָה	and I will keep
`édvut	עֵדוּת	the testimony of	looks like a plural but it's the real word itself
pyka	פִּיךָ	your mouth
l`volam	לְעוֹלָם	for ever

Psalm 119 - Part 10 Grammar

With this post I have caught up with my letter by letter reading of Ruth.  (You will find them here  א ב ג ד ה ו ז ח ט י ) So I will return to that effort and keep the blogs in sync as far as possible.

Your hands have made me and established me give me understanding and I will teach your commandments	יָדֶיךָ עָשׂוּנִי וַיְכוֹנְנוּנִי הֲבִינֵנִי וְאֶלְמְדָה מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ
Yes - those fearing you will see me and will be glad for I have hoped in your word	יְרֵאֶיךָ יִרְאוּנִי וְיִשְׂמָחוּ כִּי לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי
Yet I know יְהוָה that your judgments are righteous and faithfully you afflicted me	יָדַעְתִּי יְהוָה כִּי צֶדֶק מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ וֶאֱמוּנָה עִנִּיתָנִי
You will let, I pray, your steadfast mercy comfort me by your promise to your servant	יְהִי נָא חַסְדְּךָ לְנַחֲמֵנִי כְּאִמְרָתְךָ לְעַבְדֶּךָ
You will let them come to me in your tender love and I will live for your teaching is my delight	יְבֹאוּנִי רַחֲמֶיךָ וְאֶחְיֶה כִּי תוֹרָתְךָ שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי
Yon proud will be shamed for the deceit they dealt me for myself, I will meditate on your precepts	יֵבֹשׁוּ זֵדִים כִּי שֶׁקֶר עִוְּתוּנִי אֲנִי אָשִׂיחַ בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ
You will let those who fear you turn to me and those knowing your testimonies	יָשׁוּבוּ לִי יְרֵאֶיךָ וְיֹדְעֵי עֵדֹתֶיךָ
Yea - let my heart be complete in your statutes so I will not be ashamed	יְהִי לִבִּי תָמִים בְּחֻקֶּיךָ לְמַעַן לֹא אֵבוֹשׁ

John Donne takes the opening of one of his holy sonnets from this part. I have revised all the prior parts to rework the line structure. I am thinking that all this manipulation of the cloth must teach me something but I have not yet expressed it. One thing I already knew - that I make lots of mistakes! I have corrected a few of them in this pass.

Details

yadeyka	יָדֶיךָ	Your hands	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
`asvuny	עָשׂוּנִי	have made me	perfect third person plural with first person singular pronoun object
vàykvonnvuny	וַיְכוֹנְנוּנִי	and established me	conjunction+perfect third person plural with first person singular pronoun object
habynény	הֲבִינֵנִי	give me understanding	hiphil imperative with first person singular pronoun object
v)elmdah	וְאֶלְמְדָה	and I will teach	conjunction+first person singular imperfect
micvoteyka	מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	your commandments	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yré)eyka	יְרֵאֶיךָ	Yes - those fearing you	it's not a participle but it feels like one with second person singular possessive pronoun
yir)vuny	יִרְאוּנִי	will see me	imperfect third person plural with first person singular pronoun object
vyismaxvu	וְיִשְׂמָחוּ	and will be glad	conjunction + imperfect third person plural with first person singular pronoun object
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
lidbarka	לִדְבָרְךָ	in your word	preposition+singular noun+singular second person possessive pronoun
yixalty	יִחָלְתִּי	I have hoped	perfect first person
yadà`ty	יָדַעְתִּי	Yet I knew	perfect first person
yy ky cedeq	יְהוָה כִּי צֶדֶק	O LORD that righteous	proper name + conjunction (not acting as causative) introducing clause with elided copula
mishpa+eyka	מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ	are your judgments	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
ve)emvunah	וֶאֱמוּנָה	and in faithfulness	conjunction with noun
`inytany	עִנִּיתָנִי	you afflicted me	perfect second person singular with first person singular pronoun object
yhy na)	יְהִי נָא	You will let I pray	jussive
xàsdka	חַסְדְּךָ	your steadfast mercy	singular noun with possessive second person pronoun
lnàxamény	לְנַחֲמֵנִי	strengthen me	preposition+infinitive+singular first person pronoun as object
k)imratka	כְּאִמְרָתְךָ	by your promise	preposition+singular noun+singular second person possessive pronoun
l`àbdeka	לְעַבְדֶּךָ	to your servant	preposition+singular noun+singular second person possessive pronoun
ybo)vuny	יְבֹאוּנִי	you will let them come to me in	jussive - third person plural imperative with singular first person pronoun as object - that's me
ràxameyka	רַחֲמֶיךָ	your tender love	singular noun+singular second person possessive pronoun
v)exyeh	וְאֶחְיֶה	and I will live	conjunction + first person imperative
ky tvoratka	כִּי תוֹרָתְךָ	for your instruction	conjunction + singular noun+singular second person possessive pronoun
shà`ashu`ay	שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי	is my delight	singular noun with singular first person pronoun
yéboshvu	יֵבֹשׁוּ	let them be shamed	jussive
zédym ky sheqr	זֵדִים כִּי שֶׁקֶר	the proud for the deceit	plural noun subject of prior verb + reason!
`ivutvuny	עִוְּתוּנִי	they dealt me	third person perfect with singular first person pronoun as object
)any	אֲנִי	I	stand-alone pronoun
)asyàx	אָשִׂיחַ	will meditate	first person imperfect
bpiqvudeyka	בְּפִקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yashvubvu	יָשׁוּבוּ	You will let turn	jussive - again third person plural imperative - equivalent form to imperfect
ly	לִי	to me	preposition+singular first person pronoun
yré)eyka	יְרֵאֶיךָ	those who fear you	envelope with above
vyod`éy	וְיֹדְעֵי	and knowing	preposition and this is a participle
`édoteyka	עֵדֹתֶיךָ	your testimonies	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yhy liby	יְהִי לִבִּי	let my heart be	jussive+singular noun+singular first person possessive pronoun
tamym	תָמִים	complete	adjective
bxuqeyka	בְּחֻקֶּיךָ	in your statutes	preposition+plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
lmà`àn	לְמַעַן	so	conjunction
lo) )ébvosh	לֹא אֵבוֹשׁ	I will not be ashamed	negative particle + first person imperfect

Psalm 119 - Part 9 Grammar

Too well you have dealt with your servant יְהוָה through your word Teach me good taste and discernment for I have believed in your commandments Time it was I was afflicted going astray but now I have kept your promise Too good are you and doing good teach me your statutes Those proud ones smear a lie against me with a whole heart I will observe your precepts Their heart is gross as fat I will delight in your teaching `Tis good for me that I was afflicted so I would learn your statutes The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver

טוֹב עָשִׂיתָ עִם עַבְדְּךָ   יְהוָה כִּדְבָרֶךָ טוּב טַעַם וָדַעַת לַמְּדֵנִי   כִּי בְמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ הֶאֱמָנְתִּי טֶרֶם אֶעֱנֶה אֲנִי שֹׁגֵג וְעַתָּה אִמְרָתְךָ שָׁמָרְתִּי טוֹב אַתָּה וּמֵטִיב   לַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ טָפְלוּ עָלַי שֶׁקֶר זֵדִים   אֲנִי בְּכָל לֵב אֶצֹּר פִּקּוּדֶיךָ טָפַשׁ כַּחֵלֶב לִבָּם   אֲנִי תּוֹרָתְךָ שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי טוֹב לִי כִי עֻנֵּיתִי   לְמַעַן אֶלְמַד חֻקֶּיךָ טוֹב לִי תוֹרַת פִּיךָ   מֵאַלְפֵי זָהָב וָכָסֶף

What do you think about writing poetry like this in Hebrew? Could you improve on words beginning with ט and not use the same word in five of eight lines? But the sense of redemption is particularly strong in these verses. The poet knows personally how affliction produced unexpected positive results. One wonders, however, if good intentions and promises will have their follow-through. The acrostic seems child-like.

Details

+vob	טוֹב	Too well	Well, I had to have T to begin. Tov as adverb
`asyta	עָשִׂיתָ	you have dealt	Second person singular perfect (if it's qal or piel I won't always mention it.)
`im `àbdka	עִם עַבְדְּךָ	with your servant	preposition + singular noun with possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	now this is vocative but the O is not needed with a name
kidbareka	כִּדְבָרֶךָ	through your word	preposition + singular noun with possessive pronoun
+vub	טוּב	good	Tov as adjective
+à`àm	טַעַם	taste	noun
vadà`àt	וָדַעַת	and discernment	conjunction + noun
làmdény	לַמְּדֵנִי	Teach me	imperative with object
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
bmicvoteyka	בְמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	in your commandments	preposition + plural noun + possessive pronoun
he)emanty	הֶאֱמָנְתִּי	have I believed	Hiphil perfect
+erem	טֶרֶם	time it was	temporal adverb
)e`neh	אֶעֱנֶה	afflicted was	first person imperfect
)any	אֲנִי	I	first person stand-alone  pronoun
shogég	שֹׁגֵג	going astray	participle
v`àtah	וְעַתָּה	but now	conjunction + time marker
)imratka	אִמְרָתְךָ	your promise	noun + possessive pronoun - more to say here
shamarty	שָׁמָרְתִּי	I have kept	first person perfect - corrected from an earlier error in this post
+vob )àtah	טוֹב אַתָּה	Too good are you	Tov as adjective + second person singular stand alone pronoun
vumé+yb	וּמֵטִיב	and doing good	Tov as verb
làmdény	לַמְּדֵנִי	teach me	imperative with first person object pronoun
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with possessive pronoun
+aplvu	טָפְלוּ	they smear	third person perfect
`alày	עָלַי	against me	preposition + object pronoun
sheqr	שֶׁקֶר	a lie	noun
zédym	זֵדִים	those proud ones	plural subject of preceding verb
)any	אֲנִי	I	stand-alone pronoun
bkal léb	בְּכָל לֵב	with full heart	preposition with adjective and noun
)ecor	אֶצֹּר	will observe	first person imperfect
piqvudeyka	פִּקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural noun and possessive pronoun
+apàsh	טָפַשׁ	too gross	I don't need the t here - this is a verb reflecting the state of their heart - likely not a compliment. Note the singular heart but plural pronoun.
kàxéleb	כַּחֵלֶב	as fat	comparative preposition + adjective
libam	לִבָּם	their heart	singular noun with possessive
)any	אֲנִי	I	stand-alone pronoun
tvoratka	תּוֹרָתְךָ	in your instruction	the 'in' in English does not represent a Hebrew preposition but perhaps should be seen as part of the gloss for the verb that follows
shi`asha`ty	שִׁעֲשָׁעְתִּי	will delight	pilpel ? perfect with root letters slipping around and doubling! If I find a reference for this, I will post it.
+vob ly	טוֹב לִי	`tis good for me	Tov as state in verbless clause
ky `unéyty	כִי עֻנֵּיתִי	that I was afflicted	the conjunction is perhaps stronger than a relative - read 'that' perhaps as 'because' - but that's why I needed the contraction for the T.
lmà`àn	לְמַעַן	so	coordinating conjunction - therefore / in order that. I wonder if the long conjunction instead of a vav is for scansion?
)elmàd	אֶלְמַד	I will learn	first person imperfect - could be translated as modal
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with possessive pronoun
+vob ly	טוֹב לִי	to me better is	Tov as comparative in verbless clause - see the mem below
tvoràt pyka	תוֹרַת פִּיךָ	the law of your mouth	construct chain
mé)àlpéy	מֵאַלְפֵי	than thousands of	signal of comparative with plural noun beginning construct chain
zahab	זָהָב	gold	end of another construct chain
vakaseph	וָכָסֶף	and silver	well - not quite the end of it since both these nouns are involved as a unit in English.

Psalm 119 - Part 8 Grammar

Chosen portion, mine you are יְהוָה I have vowed to keep your word Craved have I your presence with all my heart have mercy on me remembering your promise Considered have I my ways and I will turn my feet to your testimonies Came quickly I did and I would not delay to keep your commandments Companies of the wicked robbed me I have not ignored your teaching Come midnight I arise to give thanks to you for the judgments of your righteousness Companion am I to all who fear you and are keepers of your precepts Covenant mercy yours, יְהוָה, has filled the earth you will teach me your statutes

חֶלְקִי יְהוָה אָמַרְתִּי לִשְׁמֹר דְּבָרֶיךָ חִלִּיתִי פָנֶיךָ בְכָל לֵב חָנֵּנִי כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ חִשַּׁבְתִּי דְרָכָי  וָאָשִׁיבָה רַגְלַי אֶל עֵדֹתֶיךָ חַשְׁתִּי וְלֹא הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי   לִשְׁמֹר מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ חֶבְלֵי רְשָׁעִים עִוְּדֻנִי  תּוֹרָתְךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה אָקוּם לְהוֹדוֹת לָךְ  עַל מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ חָבֵר אָנִי לְכָל אֲשֶׁר יְרֵאוּךָ   וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי פִּקּוּדֶיךָ חַסְדְּךָ יְהוָה מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חֻקֶּיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי

Details - I have not filled them in with parts of speech this time - though it remains a surprising exercise.

xlqy	חֶלְקִי	chosen portion mine	Is the poet a Levite? This first line continues the thought of the last line of zayin. I need the chosen for the first letter - it seems to fit the idea of portion whether it is I who chose or Hashem or the poet.
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD
)amàrty	אָמַרְתִּי	I have vowed	Is vow too strong?
lishmor	לִשְׁמֹר	to keep	What word do I keep
dbareyka	דְּבָרֶיךָ	your word
xilyty	חִלִּיתִי	Craved I have	Craving and longing I understand and that it must be longing for an adequate object
paneyka	פָנֶיךָ	your presence	Usually I like face for this word - but here presence
bkal léb	בְכָל לֵב	with all my heart	The longing is powerful
xanény	חָנֵּנִי	have mercy on me	and raises my need
k)imrateka	כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ	remembering your promise	but promise - equivalent to the word of the zayin section - is sufficient to calm me
xishàbty	חִשַּׁבְתִּי	Considered I have
drakay	דְרָכָי	my ways	How shall I a youth, according to the Bet section, consider my ways (that are by aleph - not so direct)?
va)ashybah	וָאָשִׁיבָה	and (will) turn(ed)	should this be perfect or imperfect. I can't see this as a story line but the following perfect verb makes me pause.
ràglày )el `édoteyka	רַגְלַי אֶל עֵדֹתֶיךָ	my feet to your testimonies	my feet - your testimonies
xàshty	חַשְׁתִּי	came quickly I did	so quickly I nearly had an accident
vlo)	וְלֹא	and not
hitmàhmahty	הִתְמַהְמָהְתִּי	would I delay	- this will take some explanation! It is supposedly an instance of Hithpalpel Perfect of מהה. I have read that word a few times but have not found a seconder for it in a modern grammar. (But see BDB page 554b.)
lishmor	לִשְׁמֹר	to keep
micvoteyka	מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	your commandments
xbléy	חֶבְלֵי	Companies of	must be a plural construct
rsha`ym	רְשָׁעִים	the wicked
`ivuduny	עִוְּדֻנִי	robbed me
tvoratka	תּוֹרָתְךָ	Your instruction
lo)	לֹא	I have not
shakaxty	שָׁכָחְתִּי	ignored	but sometimes I ignore stop signs and red lights when bicycling!
xacvot làylah )aqvum	חֲצוֹת לַיְלָה אָקוּם	Come midnight I arise	so I sleepless work at midnight on grammar exercises
lhvodvot	לְהוֹדוֹת	to give thanks	thankfully - psalms still happen to me!
lak `àl	לָךְ עַל	to you for
mishp+éy	מִשְׁפְּטֵי	the judgments of	remember the righteousness in the circles of Psalm 51 - that's what the poet means
cidqka	צִדְקֶךָ	your righteousness
xabér	חָבֵר	Companion	Companions - where are you?
)any lkal )asher	אָנִי לְכָל אֲשֶׁר	am I to all who
yré)vuka	יְרֵאוּךָ	fear you
vulshomréy	וּלְשֹׁמְרֵי	and are keepers of
piqvudeyka	פִּקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts
xàsdka	חַסְדְּךָ	Covenant mercy	of this there is no shortage for all my companions
yy	יְהוָה	yours O LORD
mal)ah	מָלְאָה	has filled	xsd must be feminine
ha)arec	הָאָרֶץ	the earth
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes
làmdény	לַמְּדֵנִי	you will teach me	and I will learn them with such a teacher

Psalm 119 - Part 7 Grammar

You remember a word to your servant by which you give me hope Yes - this my comfortable word in my trouble for your promise gives me life Yet the presumptuous hold me in great derision but from your teaching I have not fallen away Your judgments I remember from of old יְהוָה and I comfort myself Yang of fire grasps me from the wicked forsaking your teaching Yin of songs your statutes have become to me in the house of my lifetime Your name I have remembered in the night יְהוָה I have kept your teaching You are mine because I have observed your precepts

זְכֹר דָּבָר לְעַבְדֶּךָ   עַל אֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנִי זֹאת נֶחָמָתִי בְעָנְיִי  כִּי אִמְרָתְךָ חִיָּתְנִי זֵדִים הֱלִיצֻנִי עַד מְאֹד מִתּוֹרָתְךָ לֹא נָטִיתִי זָכַרְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ  מֵעוֹלָם יְהוָה וָאֶתְנֶחָם זַלְעָפָה אֲחָזַתְנִי  מֵרְשָׁעִים עֹזְבֵי תּוֹרָתֶךָ זְמִרוֹת הָיוּ לִי חֻקֶּיךָ  בְּבֵית מְגוּרָי זָכַרְתִּי בַלַּיְלָה שִׁמְךָ יְהוָה וָאֶשְׁמְרָה תּוֹרָתֶךָ זֹאת הָיְתָה לִּי  כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ נָצָרְתִּי

For zayin, I chose 'Y' - that makes both parts 7 and 10 have their verses begin with Y. Not very satisfactory, but Z would be quite unpoetic for 8 verses in English. This octet focuses on teaching / instruction, traditionally rendered law, but that word is usually misunderstood in this age.

Details

zkor dabar	זְכֹר דָּבָר	You remember a word	Imperative - the repetition of the pronoun is forced on me - but how does the poet command remembrance of a word. The noun is singular anarthrous - should it be an implied definite?
l`àbdeka	לְעַבְדֶּךָ	to your servant	preposition + noun + pronoun
`àl	עַל	by	preposition
)asher	אֲשֶׁר	which	relative pronoun
yixàltany	יִחַלְתָּנִי	you give me hope	Catching the conjugation with the implied subject and the added object pronoun as well can be really misleading when first learning this language. This is piel second person singular + the first person pronoun as object.
zo)t	זֹאת	Yes - this word	Yes for Y is no worse than zot for z. I repeated 'word' as the source of comfort
nexamaty	נֶחָמָתִי	of my comfort	Humans need this word and its ownership - it becomes more definite as the poem proceeds
b`anyy	בְעָנְיִי	in my trouble	preposition + singular noun + possessive pronoun
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
)imratka	אִמְרָתְךָ	your promise	noun + possessive pronoun
xyatny	חִיָּתְנִי	gives me life	The object pronoun suffix needs a bunch of grammatical letters to attach itself to the verb
zédym	זֵדִים	Yet the presumptuous	plural noun
helycuny	הֱלִיצֻנִי	hold me in derision	When the object is added to the verb, sometimes the pronomial subject is obscured. This must be a third person plural with object first person pronoun. hiphil - the vowel is acting as the missing vav that would normally signal the third person!
`àd m)od	עַד מְאֹד	so great	we had this adverb - to the max - in part 6 also
mitvoratka	מִתּוֹרָתְךָ	from your instruction	preposition + singular noun + possessive pronoun
lo)	לֹא	not	negative particle
na+yty	נָטִיתִי	I have not fallen away	qal perfect - first person
zakàrty	זָכַרְתִּי	I remember	qal perfect - first person
mishpa+eyka	מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ	Your judgments	plural noun + possessive pronoun
mé`volam	מֵעוֹלָם	from of old	adverb with preposition
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD
va)etnexam	וָאֶתְנֶחָם	and I comfort myself	reflexive hithpael imperfect first person singular
zàl`apah	זַלְעָפָה	Yang of fire	Well - it's from a root meaning fret or vex. It's a noun and fiery.
)axazàtny	אֲחָזַתְנִי	grasps me	third person qal perfect with object pronoun
mérsha`ym	מֵרְשָׁעִים	from the wicked	preposition + plural noun
`ozbéy	עֹזְבֵי	forsaking	participle
tvorateka	תּוֹרָתֶךָ	your instruction	noun with possessive pronoun
zmirvot	זְמִרוֹת	Yin of songs	Plural noun
hayvu ly	הָיוּ לִי	have become to me	qal perfect with preposition and attached personal pronoun
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with possessive pronoun
bbéyt	בְּבֵית	in the house of	preposition + noun
mgvuray	מְגוּרָי	my lifetime	noun with possessive pronoun
zakàrty	זָכַרְתִּי	I have remembered	first person qal perfect
bàlàylah	בַלַּיְלָה	in the night	preposition, definite, and noun
shimka	שִׁמְךָ	your name	noun with possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD
va)eshmrah	וָאֶשְׁמְרָה	I have kept	is this a story line in a poem? preterite? or should it be I will keep?
tvorateka	תּוֹרָתֶךָ	your instruction	noun with possessive pronoun
zo)t	זֹאת	You	demonstrative pronoun
haytah ly	הָיְתָה לִּי	I have to me	qal perfect - What is the antecedent of zot? Perhaps I go beyond it in phrasing this verse similar to the Song
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
piqudeyka	פִקֻּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural noun with possessive pronoun
nacarty	נָצָרְתִּי	I have observed	first person qal perfect

Psalms 90 and 91

Next week I will be presenting psalms 90-91 as prayer and answer to prayer at a local bible study. Ideas welcome. Where does Psalm 90 fit in the psalter? Why of Moses? What does the structure tell us? Is 91 an answer to 90? Why does the accuser quote 91 to the anointed Jesus in the temptations?

Comment		Psalm 90		Translation		Psalm 91		Translation	Comment
Psalm 90 begins Book V. Moses begins and ends Book IV and is mentioned only once outside of Book IV (psalm 77). relation to psalm 40		תְּפִלָּה לְמֹשֶׁה אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים		The prayer of Moses the man of God					Psalm 91 has no inscription
Adonai - is not the tetragrammeton here. Does the poet emphasize 'attah' 'you' through the word order (lanu being so far away from ma`on)?	1	אֲדֹנָי מָעוֹן אַתָּה הָיִיתָ לָּנוּ בְּדֹר וָדֹר		You O Lord,  have become our habitation from generation to generation		יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן		One dwelling in the secret of the Most High in the shadow of the Sufficient will remain
Verse 1 and 2 are a unit bound by Lord-you-gen-to-gen and age-to-age-you-God. What is in the middle? It is important. Our habitation + the birth of creation.	2	בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים יֻלָּדוּ וַתְּחוֹלֵל אֶרֶץ וְתֵבֵל וּמֵעוֹלָם עַד עוֹלָם אַתָּה אֵל		from ere the mountains were born or earth and the world writhed even from age to age you are God		אֹמַר לַיהוָה מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אֱלֹהַי אֶבְטַח בּוֹ		I will say to יְהוָה my refuge and my fortress my God I will trust in him	Note how many uses of first person imperfect there are in  psalm 91 and not in psalm 90
Dust as a translation is misleading - it is not parallel to 'adam' nor is it 'aphar' but 'that which is crushed' - so poetry for contrition. Turn = repent.	3	תָּשֵׁב אֱנוֹשׁ עַד דַּכָּא וַתֹּאמֶר שׁוּבוּ בְנֵי אָדָם		you turn a human to contrition and you say Turn children of humus		כִּי הוּא יַצִּילְךָ מִפַּח יָקוּשׁ מִדֶּבֶר הַוּוֹת		For he will deliver you from a trapper's snare from a plague of desires
The crushing of the elect is represented by the lament of Psalm 89 - rehearsing 'recent days' of the promises	4	כִּי אֶלֶף שָׁנִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ כְּיוֹם אֶתְמוֹל כִּי יַעֲבֹר וְאַשְׁמוּרָה בַלָּיְלָה		for a thousand years in your eyes is like a recent day for it is over as a watch in the night		בְּאֶבְרָתוֹ יָסֶךְ לָךְ וְתַחַת כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶה צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ		With his feathers he will cover you and beneath his wings you will take refuge a grappling hook and shield his truth	feathers sounds like fury
	5	זְרַמְתָּם שֵׁנָה יִהְיוּ בַּבֹּקֶר כֶּחָצִיר יַחֲלֹף		you inundate them, sleep they become in the morning like grass they grow up		לֹא תִירָא מִפַּחַד לָיְלָה מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם		You will not fear for dread by night for an arrow that flies by day	day and night appear in both psalms
	6	בַּבֹּקֶר יָצִיץ וְחָלָף לָעֶרֶב יְמוֹלֵל וְיָבֵשׁ		in the morning it flourishes and grows up in the evening it is cut down and withers		מִדֶּבֶר בָּאֹפֶל יַהֲלֹךְ מִקֶּטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם		for the plague that walks in gloom for destruction that wastes at noon	noon sounds like mountains
	7	כִּי כָלִינוּ בְאַפֶּךָ וּבַחֲמָתְךָ נִבְהָלְנוּ		for we are consumed in your anger and in your wrath we are troubled		יִפֹּל מִצִּדְּךָ אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ		A thousand will fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand to you it will not come near
	8	שַׁתָּה עֲו‍ֹנֹתֵינוּ לְנֶגְדֶּךָ עֲלֻמֵנוּ לִמְאוֹר פָּנֶיךָ		you put our iniquities in front of you our secret in the light of your face		רַק בְּעֵינֶיךָ תַבִּיט וְשִׁלֻּמַת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה		but with your eyes you will be attentive and the reward of the wicked you will see
three different words for anger - I will try to be concordant	9	כִּי כָל יָמֵינוּ פָּנוּ בְעֶבְרָתֶךָ כִּלִּינוּ שָׁנֵינוּ כְמוֹ הֶגֶה		for all our days face away from your fury we complete our years as a groan		כִּי אַתָּה יְהוָה מַחְסִי עֶלְיוֹן שַׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶךָ		For you יְהוָה are my refuge You have made the Most High your habitation
year is singular irregular in Hebrew - always considered plural - note the plural feminine construct	10	יְמֵי שְׁנוֹתֵינוּ בָהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָוֶן כִּי גָז חִישׁ וַנָּעֻפָה		the days of our years, in them seventy years and if in strength eighty years but their pride is labor and mischief for it is cut off soon and we flutter away		לֹא  תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וְנֶגַע לֹא קְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ		evil is not allowed to come to you and illness will not come into your tent
	11	מִי יוֹדֵעַ עֹז אַפֶּךָ וּכְיִרְאָתְךָ עֶבְרָתֶךָ		Who knows the power of your anger and for your fear your fury		כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל  דְּרָכֶיךָ		for he will instruct his messengers about you to keep you in all your ways
	12	לִמְנוֹת יָמֵינוּ כֵּן הוֹדַע וְנָבִא לְבַב חָכְמָה		To number our days so make known that we may come to the heart of wisdom		עַל כַּפַּיִם יִשָּׂאוּנְךָ פֶּן תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ		in their hands they will lift you up in case you strike your foot with a stone
	13	שׁוּבָה יְהוָה עַד  מָתָי וְהִנָּחֵם עַל עֲבָדֶיךָ		Turn יְהוָה , how long? And sigh over your servants		עַל שַׁחַל וָפֶתֶן תִּדְרֹךְ תִּרְמֹס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין		over lion and adder you will make your way you will trample young lion and dragon
	14	שַׂבְּעֵנוּ בַבֹּקֶר חַסְדֶּךָ וּנְרַנְּנָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בְּכָל יָמֵינוּ		sustain us in the morning of your loving kindness and we will rejoice and be glad all our days		כִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ אֲשַׂגְּבֵהוּ כִּי יָדַע שְׁמִי		Because he loved me so I will deliver him I will set him on high for he has known my name	chashak - an interesting word - used of the building of the tabernacle and translated as desire and longing in various places
	15	שַׂמְּחֵנוּ כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָנוּ שְׁנוֹת רָאִינוּ רָעָה		Make us glad for days you afflicted us years we have seen evil		יִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי  בְצָרָה אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ		he will call me and I will answer him I am with him in trouble I will rescue him and I will glorify him
	16	יֵרָאֶה אֶל עֲבָדֶיךָ פָעֳלֶךָ וַהֲדָרְךָ עַל  בְּנֵיהֶם		Let your work appear to your servants and your honor to their children		אֹרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ וְאַרְאֵהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי		With length of days I will satisfy him and I will show him in my salvation
Notice the palindrome with verse 1 - find an English word that might do this?	17	וִיהִי נֹעַם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ		And let be the beauty of the Lord our God be on us and the work of our hands establish on us and the work of our hands establish

Psalm 119 - Part 6 Grammar

O vav, you that begin all words and belong as first of one only

you that inhabit many words named as consonant and act as vowel

what shall I do with you - how shall I read you!

Now there's a vocative for you.
Here's my translation with W (touched up a bit)

Well come to me your steadfast love יְהוָה your salvation like your promise	וִיבֹאֻנִי חֲסָדֶךָ יְהוָה תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ
Wherewith I will answer a word to one reproaching me for I trust in your word	וְאֶעֱנֶה חֹרְפִי דָבָר כִּי בָטַחְתִּי בִּדְבָרֶךָ
Word of truth do not remove from my mouth utterly for I have hoped in your judgments	וְאַל תַּצֵּל מִפִּי דְבַר אֱמֶת עַד מְאֹד כִּי לְמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ יִחָלְתִּי
Watch over your teaching I will continually to the age and for ever	וְאֶשְׁמְרָה תוֹרָתְךָ תָמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Walk in maturity I will for your precepts I have sought	וְאֶתְהַלְּכָה בָרְחָבָה  כִּי פִקֻּדֶיךָ דָרָשְׁתִּי
Words of your testimonies before kings I will have and I will not be ashamed	וַאֲדַבְּרָה בְעֵדֹתֶיךָ נֶגֶד מְלָכִים  וְלֹא אֵבוֹשׁ
Wherefore my delight will be in your commandments which I have loved	וְאֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע בְּמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ   אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי
Wave my hands I will to your commandments which I have loved and I will meditate on your statutes	וְאֶשָּׂא כַפַּי אֶל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהָבְתִּי וְאָשִׂיחָה בְחֻקֶּיךָ

What about trying a translation with U or V as the first letter? I thought about it and figured it would be too hard for me. Rather than reading the Hebrew dictionary, I would have to read an English dictionary letter by letter. Much as Christian Bok did with his book of poems Eunoia - a book by Bok - where each chapter uses only one vowel. Examples here. If you haven't seen this book do read some excerpts - they are "enfettered yet free. He lets cleverness exceed decent levels." After all, "awkward grammar appalls a craftsman!" and "Writing is inhibiting" and blogs "form cocoons of comfort ... to hold bookworms" "such hubbub, such rumpus, thump, thump, thrum, thrum, " thud.

This poem divides into 4 and 4 - 1 a thesis, 2 a use thereof, 3 a negative command, 4 a promise and then 4 similarly structured outcomes perhaps conditioned on the fulfillment of the negative command and promise. See below for the somewhat similar structures in the last 4 lines.

Details - there are more questions occurring to me as I write what at first seems obvious - I am reading a fascinating set of essays on the verbless clause in Hebrew. I am thinking nothing of English grammar should be taken for granted in my analysis - subject predicate might turn out to be more like concept and comment. In fact even the retroactive nature of construct I am reconsidering. What if they were all comment like redefinitions - a word, of the truth, each subsequent phoneme redefining but not changing those that are already uttered.
Read this well come as two words not one - though 'well' is not in the Hebrew. As qal imperfect it can be read as future or as jussive - a third person 'imperative'. The verb is singular. Is the noun plural as AV translates? If so we must reconsider the whole for then perhaps it is Hashem, the nearest singular noun who comes and the noun phrases are appositional commentary.

vybo)uny	וִיבֹאֻנִי	Well come to me
xasadeka	חֲסָדֶךָ	your steadfast love	noun (plural?) + second person possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	forced English vocative if the proper name is not used in translation - that's why Adonai - my Lord or Hashem is preferable
tshvu`atka	תְּשׁוּעָתְךָ	your salvation	This is one of many verbs forming a noun - as in English Save to salvation of course with the personal pronoun also attached. Is תשועה the equivalent of a gerund? I have not found a rule yet that would let me noun a verb. BDB lists this form with יָשַׁע the verb and יֵשַׁע the noun - deliverance. (You can see that without the pointing, you can't tell the difference between these words) In my Hebrew Latin concordance, the word is listed as a form of the noun - we will find it frequently in this psalm.
k)imrateka	כְּאִמְרָתֶךָ	as your promise	preposition+noun+'construct' ending+pronoun - it seems to me that the nun and taf make the language 'smoother'. There were information processors and designers in those days - and if there weren't grammarians, there was still a sophisticated intuited grammar and linguistics.
v)e`neh	וְאֶעֱנֶה	Wherewith I will answer	conjunction+ first person qal imperfect - note the sequence of gutturals aleph+ayin - this is not smoothed out!
xorpy	חֹרְפִי	one reproaching me	Participle + first person pronoun as object (reproach joins this part with part 5)
dabar	דָבָר	a word	noun - perhaps in construct with the prior word?
ky ba+àxty	כִּי בָטַחְתִּי	for I trust	preposition + first person qal perfect
bidbareka	בִּדְבָרֶךָ	in your word	preposition + noun + possessive pronoun
v)àl tàcél	וְאַל תַּצֵּל	Wherefore do not remove	conjunction+negative particle+hiphil imperative - why hiphil? where's the 'he' - the verb is a I-nun and the nun does strange things to the 'he' in the hiphil!
mipy	מִפִּי	from my mouth	preposition + noun + possessive pronoun
dbàr )emet	דְבַר אֱמֶת	the?a word of truth	Is 'truth' a sufficient end to the construct chain to produce a definite article at the beginning?
`àd m)od	עַד מְאֹד	utterly	adverb - to the max
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
lmishpa+eka	לְמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ	in your judgments	preposition + plural noun + possessive pronoun
yixalty	יִחָלְתִּי	I have hoped	first person qal perfect
v)eshmrah	וְאֶשְׁמְרָה	Watch over I will	conjunction and first person imperfect
tvoratka	תוֹרָתְךָ	your instruction	noun singular + possessive pronoun
tamyd	תָמִיד	continually	adverb
l`volam	לְעוֹלָם	to the age	preposition + noun used adverbial modifier
va`d	וָעֶד	and for ever	conjunction + adverb
v)ethàlkah	וְאֶתְהַלְּכָה	walk I will	conjunction and first person imperfect
barxabah	בָרְחָבָה	in maturity	preposition + adverb
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
piqudeyka	פִקֻּדֶיךָ	your precepts	noun + possessive pronoun
darashty	דָרָשְׁתִּי	I have sought	first person qal perfect
và)adàbrah	וַאֲדַבְּרָה	Words I will have	conjunction and first person imperfect
b`édoteyka	בְעֵדֹתֶיךָ	of your testimonies	preposition + noun + possessive pronoun
neged	נֶגֶד	before	preposition
mlakym	מְלָכִים	kings	plural noun
vlo)	וְלֹא	and I will not	conjunction with negative particle
)ébvosh	אֵבוֹשׁ	be ashamed	first person imperfect (breaks the pattern)
v)eshtà`ashà`	וְאֶשְׁתַּעֲשַׁע	Will my delight so be	conjunction and first person imperfect
bmicvoteyka	בְּמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	in your commandments	preposition + noun + possessive pronoun
)asher	אֲשֶׁר	which	relative pronoun
)ahabty	אָהָבְתִּי	I have loved	first person qal perfect
v)esa) kàpày	וְאֶשָּׂא כַפַּי	Wave my hands I will	conjunction and first person imperfect + noun + pronoun - plural
)el micvoteyka	אֶל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	to your commandments	separate preposition noun + possessive pronoun
)asher	אֲשֶׁר	which	relative pronoun
)ahabty	אָהָבְתִּי	I have loved	first person qal perfect
v)asyxah	וְאָשִׂיחָה	and I will meditate	conjunction and first person imperfect
bxuqeyka	בְחֻקֶּיךָ	on your statutes	preposition + noun + possessive pronoun