Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Psalm 119 - Part 14 Grammar

נֵר לְרַגְלִי דְבָרֶךָ
וְאוֹר לִנְתִיבָתִי
Nigh, a lamp to my feet, is your word
and light to my path
נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי וָאֲקַיֵּמָה
לִשְׁמֹר מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ
Now I have sworn and I will do it
to guard the judgments of your righteousness
נַעֲנֵיתִי עַד מְאֹד יְהוָה
חַיֵּנִי כִדְבָרֶךָ
Near to much trouble am I, יְהוָה
give me life by your word
נִדְבוֹת פִּי רְצֵה נָא יְהוָה
וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לַמְּדֵנִי
Now please accept, יְהוָה, the gifts of my mouth
and teach me your judgments
נַפְשִׁי בְכַפִּי תָמִיד וְתוֹרָתְךָ
לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי
Note my being is in my hand continually
and I have not forgotten your teaching
נָתְנוּ רְשָׁעִים פַּח לִי
וּמִפִּקּוּדֶיךָ לֹא תָעִיתִי
Netted the wicked a snare for me
but I did not depart from your precepts -
נָחַלְתִּי עֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם
כִּי שְׂשׂוֹן לִבִּי הֵמָּה
No! I have acquired your testimonies for ever
for they are the rejoicing of my heart
נָטִיתִי לִבִּי לַעֲשׂוֹת חֻקֶּיךָ
 לְעוֹלָם עֵקֶב
Nuanced have I my heart in doing your statutes
for ever with foot firmly planted
The fifth verse underlines our danger. We are in our own hands. We have a real responsibility, and though we do not forget, we do not always do.But when we do - is it as in the last phrase to the purpose of the command? I hope so - I think the only command is to engage by faith this invitation to life.

Details

nér lràglyנֵר לְרַגְלִיa lamp to my feet
nigh is added for the n
dbarekaדְבָרֶךָyour word
v)vorוְאוֹרand lightlight or a light
lintybatyלִנְתִיבָתִיto my path
nishbà`tyנִשְׁבַּעְתִּיnow I have swornniphal as might be expected in this poem
va)aqàyémahוָאֲקַיֵּמָהand I will do itpiel (dagesh in yod! yod is not part of the root!) imperfect
lishmorלִשְׁמֹרto guardqal infinitive
mishp+éyמִשְׁפְּטֵיthe judgments of
cidqkaצִדְקֶךָyour righteousness
nà`anéytyנַעֲנֵיתִיnear to trouble am Iniphal perfect again
`àd m)odעַד מְאֹדmuch
yyיְהוָהO LORD
xàyényחַיֵּנִיgive me lifepiel (dagesh in yod)
kidbarekaכִדְבָרֶךָaccording to your word
nidbvotנִדְבוֹתNow the gifts ofsingular of this noun is formed by appending a 'he' to the verb
py rcéh na)פִּי רְצֵה נָאmy mouth please acceptqal imperative
yyיְהוָהO LORD
vumishpa+eykaוּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָand your judgments
làmdényלַמְּדֵנִיteach mepiel (dagesh in mem) + pronoun as object
nàpshyנַפְשִׁיmy being
bkàpyבְכַפִּיin my hand
tamydתָמִידcontinually
vtvoratkaוְתוֹרָתְךָand your instruction
lo)לֹאnot
shakaxtyשָׁכָחְתִּיhave I forgottenqal perfect
natnvuנָתְנוּnettedqal perfect
rsha`ymרְשָׁעִיםthe wicked
pàx lyפַּח לִיa snare for me
vumipiqvudeykaוּמִפִּקּוּדֶיךָbut from your precepts
lo)לֹאnot
ta`ytyתָעִיתִיdid I departqal perfect
naxàltyנָחַלְתִּיI have acquiredqal perfect - the No reflects the prior line in the poem - needed the n
`édvoteykaעֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָyour testimonies
l`volamלְעוֹלָםfor ever
ky ssvonכִּי שְׂשׂוֹןfor the rejoicing of
libyלִבִּיmy heart
hémahהֵמָּהare they
na+ytyנָטִיתִיnuanced have Iqal perfect - nuanced eh?
libyלִבִּיmy heart
là`asvotלַעֲשׂוֹתin doingqal infinitive
xuqeykaחֻקֶּיךָyour statutes
l`volamלְעוֹלָםfor ever
`éqbעֵקֶבwith foot firmly plantedsee 119:33 - play on Jacob

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