Me afar out - update your links

Please update your links and readers to http://meafar.blogspot.com.That's where I will be posting 95% of the time - one person one blog till I run out of room again.  I am working through the Song of Songs - No one should miss a verse or be averse to correcting me if necessary.

Blog getting too large

Like Sufficiency, this blog is approaching 4 MB in size, so I will be posting on my formerly Matthew blog now Poetry of Christ blog.  Just to get more stuff on the other side of this teeter totter before I bash my nose.

Please update your links and readers to http://meafar.blogspot.com. I hope I don't lose any friends with this move :(

Psalm 119 - Part 22 Grammar

תִּקְרַב רִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה כִּדְבָרְךָ הֲבִינֵנִי	To your presence let my cry come near יְהוָה in your word give me understanding
תָּבוֹא תְּחִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ כְּאִמְרָתְךָ הַצִּילֵנִי	To your presence let my supplication come in your promise deliver me
תַּבַּעְנָה שְׂפָתַי תְּהִלָּה כִּי תְלַמְּדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ	Tumble will my lips with praise for you teach me your statutes
תַּעַן לְשׁוֹנִי אִמְרָתֶךָ כִּי כָל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ צֶּדֶק	Testify will my tongue of your promise for all your commandments are righteous
תְּהִי יָדְךָ לְעָזְרֵנִי כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ בָחָרְתִּי	There your hand will be to help me for I have chosen your precepts
תָּאַבְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה וְתוֹרָתְךָ שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי	To your salvation I have longed to come יְהוָה and your teaching is my delight
תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ יַעְזְרֻנִי	To live let my being and it will praise you and you will help me from your judgments
תָּעִיתִי כְּשֶׂה אֹבֵד בַּקֵּשׁ עַבְדֶּךָ כִּי מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי	Time and again I am straying like a sheep that has perished seek your servant for your commandments I do not forget

The 22nd part. And notice how that lost sheep knows what it says. Baaahhh ! And I managed to avoid saying the opposite of what I meant most of the time.

BTW, the blogger editor is full of bugs in the Firefox browser. I have no idea where to report them, but the keyboard and mouse in the WSIWIG component will not allow typing in a null table cell, but it will allow paste and then typing. They changed it a few weeks ago much for the worse. I wonder who's using this besides me. Certainly they have let loose a programmer on it who does not have adequate testers (I know the feeling).

Details - I am sure we could predict taf as the prefix to the verb in this poem - and sure enough, we get it. Taf occurs as the first letter of the second and third person singular and plural of the imperfect - right across the board.

tiqràb	תִּקְרַב	let come near	third person singular qal imperfect - read as jussive - must be feminine
rinaty	רִנָּתִי	my cry	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun
lpaneyka	לְפָנֶיךָ	to your presence	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	Divine name
kidbarka	כִּדְבָרְךָ	in your word	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun (in could be according to if you prefer)
habynény	הֲבִינֵנִי	give me understanding	Imperative hiphil with first person pronoun as object
tabvo)	תָּבוֹא	let come	jussive - third person imperative (=imperfect form)
txinaty	תְּחִנָּתִי	my supplication	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun
lpaneyka	לְפָנֶיךָ	to your presence	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
k)imratka	כְּאִמְרָתְךָ	in your promise	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
hàcylény	הַצִּילֵנִי	deliver me	Imperative hiphil with first person pronoun as object
tàbà`nah	תַּבַּעְנָה	tumble will	third person plural feminine qal imperfect
spatày	שְׂפָתַי	my lips with	plural noun subject
thilah	תְּהִלָּה	praise	singular noun, object of verb
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
tlàmdény	תְלַמְּדֵנִי	you have taught me	imperfect second person singular with singular first person object
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with first person singular possessive pronoun
tà`àn	תַּעַן	testify will	third person singular qal imperfect
lshvony	לְשׁוֹנִי	my tongue	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun
)imrateka	אִמְרָתֶךָ	of your promise	singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
ky kal micvoteyka	כִּי כָל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	for all your commandments	preposition + adjective + plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
cedeq	צֶּדֶק	are righteous	adjective predicate, implied copula
thy yadka	תְּהִי יָדְךָ	there will be your hand	imperfect third person singular of 'to be' i.e. an explicit use of this verb + singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
l`azrény	לְעָזְרֵנִי	to help me	preposition+infinitive+first person singular pronoun
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
piqvudeyka	פִקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
baxarty	בָחָרְתִּי	I have chosen	first person singular qal perfect
ta)àbty	תָּאַבְתִּי	I have longed to come	first person singular qal perfect
lyshvu`atka	לִישׁוּעָתְךָ	to your salvation	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	Divine name
vtvoratka	וְתוֹרָתְךָ	and your instruction	conjunction+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
shà`ashu`ay	שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי	is my delight	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun - predicate, implied copula
txy nàpshy	תְּחִי נַפְשִׁי	To live let my being	jussive - third person imperative + singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun
vuthàlleka	וּתְהַלְלֶךָּ	and it will praise you	connector+third person imperfect qal+second person pornoun as object
vumishpa+eka	וּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ	and from your judgments	conjunction+plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
yà`zruny	יַעְזְרֻנִי	you will help me	second person imperfect qal with singular first person object
ta`yty	תָּעִיתִי	Time and again straying I	I needed the T+ qal perfect first person
kseh	כְּשֶׂה	am like a sheep	preposition + singular noun
)obéd	אֹבֵד	that has perished	participle
bàqésh	בַּקֵּשׁ	seek	imperative
`àbdeka	עַבְדֶּךָ	your servant	singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
ky micvoteyka	כִּי מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	for your commandments	preposition+plural noun with second person singular possessive pronoun
lo)	לֹא	not	negative particle
shakaxty	שָׁכָחְתִּי	do I forget	qal perfect first person

Psalm 119 - Part 21 Grammar

שָׂרִים רְדָפוּנִי חִנָּם וּמִדְּבָרְךָ פָּחַד לִבִּי	Sultans persecute me for nothing but from your word my heart stands in awe
שָׂשׂ אָנֹכִי עַל אִמְרָתֶךָ כְּמוֹצֵא שָׁלָל רָב	Singing I sing for your promise as finding great booty
שֶׁקֶר שָׂנֵאתִי וַאֲתַעֵבָה תּוֹרָתְךָ אָהָבְתִּי	Scandal I hate and abhor I love your teaching
שֶׁבַע בַּיּוֹם הִלַּלְתִּיךָ עַל מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ	Seven times a day do I praise you for the judgments of your righteousness
שָׁלוֹם רָב לְאֹהֲבֵי תוֹרָתֶךָ וְאֵין לָמוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל	Such great peace to those loving your teaching and there is no stumbling for them
שִׂבַּרְתִּי לִישׁוּעָתְךָ יְהוָה וּמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ עָשִׂיתִי	Steadfast is my hope in your salvation יְהוָה and I have done your commandments
שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי עֵדֹתֶיךָ וָאֹהֲבֵם מְאֹד	Savors my being your testimonies and I love them greatly
שָׁמַרְתִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ וְעֵדֹתֶיךָ כִּי כָל דְּרָכַי נֶגְדֶּךָ	So I keep your precepts and your testimonies for all my ways are near you

How is our poet feeling after 21 parts of the poem? Happy to be nearing its end? Still has trouble from external sources and internal sources will be evident in part 22. Likes the superlative in this section.

Details

sarym	שָׂרִים	sultans		plural noun
rdapvuny	רְדָפוּנִי	persecute me		third person plural qal+object first person pronoun
xinam	חִנָּם	for nothing		adverb - derived from grace חֵן
vumidbarka	וּמִדְּבָרְךָ	but from your word		prefix conjunction+singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
paxàd	פָּחַד	stands in awe		third person (root) form qal perfect
liby	לִבִּי	my heart		singular noun with first person singular pronoun
sas	שָׂשׂ	singing		its even a participle!
)anoky `àl )imrateka	אָנֹכִי עַל אִמְרָתֶךָ	I for your promise		stand-alone pronoun+preposition+singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
kmvocé)	כְּמוֹצֵא	as finding		preposition+participle
shalal rab	שָׁלָל רָב	great booty		noun+modifier
sheqr	שֶׁקֶר	scandal		noun
sané)ty	שָׂנֵאתִי	I hate		first person singular qal perfect
và)atà`ébah	וַאֲתַעֵבָה	and abhor		connector+first person singular qal imperfect
tvoratka	תּוֹרָתְךָ	your instruction		singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
)ahabty	אָהָבְתִּי	I love		first person singular qal perfect
shebà`	שֶׁבַע	seven times		number
bàyvom	בַּיּוֹם	a day		preposition+noun
hilàltyka	הִלַּלְתִּיךָ	do I praise you		first person singular must be piel perfect + object second person singular pronoun
`àl	עַל	for		preposition
mishp+éy	מִשְׁפְּטֵי	the judgments of		plural noun in construct (loses its ending)
cidqka	צִדְקֶךָ	your righteousness		singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
shalvom	שָׁלוֹם	peace		noun
rab	רָב	such great		modifier
l)ohabéy	לְאֹהֲבֵי	to those loving		preposition+participle in construct
tvorateka	תוֹרָתֶךָ	your instruction		singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
v)éyn lamvo	וְאֵין לָמוֹ	and there is for them no		conjunction+particle of not being+ preposition+archaic third person possessive pronoun
mikshvol	מִכְשׁוֹל	stumbling		noun (derived from verb)
sibàrty	שִׂבַּרְתִּי	steadfast my hope		qal perfect first person phrased for the S
lyshvu`atka	לִישׁוּעָתְךָ	in your salvation		preposition+singular noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD		divine name
vumicvoteyka	וּמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	and your commandments		prefix conjunction+plural noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
`asyty	עָשִׂיתִי	I have done		qal perfect first person
shamrah	שָׁמְרָה	savours		third person qal perfect feminine
nàpshy	נַפְשִׁי	my being		singular noun+possessive first person pronoun
`édoteyka	עֵדֹתֶיךָ	your testimonies		plural noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
va)ohabém	וָאֹהֲבֵם	and I love them		connector+first person imperfect+object pronoun
m)od	מְאֹד	greatly		adverb
shamàrty	שָׁמַרְתִּי	so I keep		qal first person perfect (extra s)
piqvudeyka	פִקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts		plural noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
v`édoteyka	וְעֵדֹתֶיךָ	and your testimonies		prefix conjunction+plural noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
ky kal drakày	כִּי כָל דְּרָכַי	for all my ways		conjunction+modifier+plural noun - truncated ending from possessive first person pronoun
negdeka	נֶגְדֶּךָ	are before you		preposition+second person possessive pronoun

The Psalms used in Hebrews

The psalms are getting some mixed press in the bloggosphere stimulated by this post from David Ker on vengeance in the Old Testament - so I write what has been brewing these last four years on the use of the psalms in the NT - particularly Hebrews. (This search ht JK Gayle will find several of the recent essays on the vengeance texts of the Psalms. They are not absent from the context of Hebrews - but you will find my spin encouraging I hope.)
 
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews takes the substance of the dialogue between the Father and the Son almost exclusively from the Psalms. This fact alone should make us rethink our reading of the Old Testament. If we read the Psalter as the writer to that letter did, there is a conversation going on between God the Father and God the Son and we who read are somehow in it.

Here are the uses of the Psalms in Hebrews sorted in the order of their occurrence in the text. I realize, by the way, that several of the psalms are cited from the Greek version, but I don't do Greek and the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews was not ignorant of some Hebrew, at least as far as glossing Melchizedek and Salem. (And the author took that word apart into its pieces to explain its meaning too -tsk tsk - a translation trap!) If I notice a significant difference between the Hebrew and the Greek which I reference from 'A Comparative Psalter' Ed John R. Kohlenberger III, it will emerge...

Text	Translation		Reference	Meanderings
Above the Angels
יְהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיֹּום יְלִדְתִּיךָ	יְהוָה said to me My son you are, I today have birthed you		Psalm 2:7 Hebrews 1:5 (also Acts 13:33)	It is the Son speaking and declaring the decree concerning himself (see also 2 Samuel 7:14). Today is the one day of creation and redemption. There is but one and that one ever. (Geo. Herbert) i.e. this is not 'adoptionism' unless you want to limit your perception in time.
הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־לֹו כָּל־אֱלֹהִים (The grammar is hithpael imperative of שחה. reflexive / reciprocal? See Lambdin p 249 - incomprehensible!)	Worship him all gods		Psalm 97:7 [or Deut 32:43 LXX HT Brian Small] Hebrews 1:6	The context of these few words of verse 7 is idolatry. This psalm is one of the royal sequence in the middle of Book 3. It is about the worship of  יְהוָה as king. Hebrews implies that the Son is to be worshiped as יְהוָה himself. The king of Psalm 2 is identified implicitly then with יְהוָה.We are not distant, however, and should consider ourselves represented in the person of the Son - not by our presumption but by his choice. (Otherwise, how could we be a part of this conversation?)
עֹשֶׂה מַלְאָכָיו רוּחֹות  מְשָׁרְתָיו אֵשׁ לֹהֵט	making his angels spirits, his ministers,  fire flaming		Psalm 104:4 Hebrews 1:7	This is the first of the last three psalms of Book 3 - It is downplaying angels.
כִּסְאֲךָ אֱלֹהִים עֹולָם וָעֶד שֵׁבֶט מִישֹׁר שֵׁבֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ אָהַבְתָּ צֶּדֶק וַתִּשְׂנָא רֶשַׁע עַל־כֵּן מְשָׁחֲךָ אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן שָׂשֹׂון מֵחֲבֵרֶיךָ	Your throne O God is now and for ever a sceptre of equity the sceptre of your kingdom You have loved righteousness and hate wickedness therefore God your God has anointed you with oil of rejoicing with your companions		Psalm 45:6-7 Hebrews 1:8-9	Like Psalm 2, Psalm 45, (My heart is inditing...) of the royal wedding, is addressed to the king of Israel. So the writer to the Hebrews is interpreting the address to the king as an address to the Son of whom he speaks.
לְפָנִים הָאָרֶץ יָסַדְתָּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶיךָ שָׁמָיִם הֵמָּה יֹאבֵדוּ וְאַתָּה תַעֲמֹד וְכֻלָּם כַּבֶּגֶד יִבְלוּ כַּלְּבוּשׁ תַּחֲלִיפֵם וְיַחֲלֹֽפוּ	in the face of the earth you established and the work of your hands, the heavens. These will perish but you - you will stand and they all like clothing will decay as a garment you will change them and they will be changed but you are the same - and your years will not end		Psalm 102:25-26 Hebrews 1:10-12	Psalm 102 is about faces- A prayer of the poor when disabled, before the face of יְהוָה he pours out his talk. The Greek misses the sounds of the Hebrew as any translation almost inevitably does. But the Lord of psalm 102 is not the complainant (the poor) - for the days of the complainant vanish like smoke (v3) in contrast to unending years. So in this case is the writer to the Hebrews allowing the end of the psalm to be a promise addressed to the poor who complains? This becomes a Messianic psalm under such a reading.
נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ	a proclamation of יְהוָה to my Lord Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool		Psalm 110:1 Hebrews 1:13 (also Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:34-35, 1 Peter 3:22)	Another royal psalm of a king is applied to the Son. At an earlier time I wrote: let the one who was wounded for us and whose head is lifted up judge those who rule and lead them to drink from the torrent of life-giving water that flowed from his side. May the king live these words into us so that we can understand.
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ	for he will instruct his messengers about you to keep you in all your ways		Psalm 91:11-12 Hebrews 1:14 (also Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:10-11)	This is barely an allusion but puts the place of angels clearly in service to humanity.
Humanity and its role in creation from suffering to praise
מָה־אֱנֹושׁ כִּי־תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ וּבֶן־אָדָם כִּי תִפְקְדֶנּוּ וַתְּחַסְּרֵהוּ מְּעַט מֵאֱלֹהִים וְכָבֹוד וְהָדָר תְּעַטְּרֵהוּ תַּמְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶיךָ כֹּל שַׁתָּה תַחַת־רַגְלָיו	What is humanity, that you remember it? and the child of the dust that you visit? Yet you filled it less just a little less than God and with glory and adorning crown it. You give it reign over the works of your hands, all you put under its feet		Psalm 8:4-6 (5-7 MT) Hebrews 2:6-9 (also 1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22)	The service note leads the writer directly to Psalm 8 (somewhere there is a passage!) And the identification of Jesus with the אֱנֹושׁ of Psalm 8 lets us consider his role in tasting death for all.
אֲסַפְּרָה שִׁמְךָ לְאֶחָי בְּתֹוךְ קָהָל אֲהַלְלֶֽךָּ	I will declare your name to my kin In the midst of the congregation I will praise you		Psalm 22:22 (23 MT) Hebrews 2:12	The tasting of death leads immediately to Psalm 22 where the motif of death and resurrection is clear. (see also Psalm 35:18, 40:9, 149:1)
Entering the Rest - re-framing Torah through a reading of the Psalms
הַיֹּום אִם־בְּקֹלֹו תִשְׁמָעוּ אַל־תַּקְשׁוּ לְבַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָה כְּיֹום מַסָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר אֲשֶׁר נִסּוּנִי אֲבֹותֵיכֶם בְּחָנוּנִי גַּם־רָאוּ פָעֳלִי אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה אָקוּט בְּדֹור וָאֹמַר עַם תֹּעֵי לֵבָב הֵם וְהֵם לֹא־יָדְעוּ דְרָכָי אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי אִם־יְבֹאוּן אֶל־מְנוּחָתִי	Today if you hear his voice do not harden your heart in rebellion as if it was the day of testing in the wilderness when your fathers tested me examined me and saw my work forty years I put up with a generation and I said these people wander in their hearts and they do not know my ways so I swore in my anger they will not come to my rest		Psalm 95:7-11 Hebrews 3:7-11, 15, 4:7, 4:3-5	Having laid out for us the exaltation of this man, Jesus, the Son as noted in Hebrews 1:2, we are then invited to consider our situation as 'his house'. Using Psalm 95, the Venite of traditional Mattins, the writer redefines the meaning of 'today' again. There must be a rest to be reached. (Note the anticipation of rest in the story of Ruth. בִּתִּי הֲלֹא אֲבַקֶּשׁ-לָךְ מָנוֹחַ my daughter do I not seek for you rest) There is work for us, and it is easy to get discouraged. But there also is fruitfulness, rest, and the oil of gladness. Is Psalm 95 one of the 'nice' psalms? Note how it redefines a false literal 7 day creation (as if it was necessary for the centuries to come). This redefinition is confirmed by the NT writers - particularly the writer of this letter and the writer of the Gospel of John.
אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שִׁבְתִּי וְקוּמִי בַּנְתָּה לְרֵעִי מֵרָחֹֽוק אָרְחִי וְרִבְעִי זֵרִיתָ וְֽכָל־דְּרָכַי הִסְכַּֽנְתָּה	You - you know my sitting and my rising; you understand my thought from afar; my path and my lying down you sift; and all my ways you know intimately		Psalm 139:2-3 Hebrews 4:13	The allusion is indirect to Psalm 139 and perhaps more fearful than the psalm, but it illustrates that we are known if indeed we allow such openness as is demonstrated continuously in the human psalmist. Let it never be said "I did not know you" for such knowledge is too precious. Not of the flesh, it is nonetheless truly and fully known in this earthen vessel.
The High Priest as taught in the Psalms
אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חֹק יְהוָה אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה אֲנִי הַיֹּום יְלִדְתִּיךָ	I will declare the decree: יְהוָה said to me: My son you are, I today have birthed you		Psalm 2:7 Hebrews 5:5	The sonship and priesthood are both declared by God
נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה וְלֹא יִנָּחֵם אַתָּֽה־כֹהֵן לְעֹולָם עַל־דִּבְרָתִי מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק	יְהוָה has sworn and will not repent you are a priest for ever of the order of Melchizedek		Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:6, 7:17, 21	This little psalm is very important to the NT writers.
זֶבַח וּמִנְחָה לֹֽא־חָפַצְתָּ אָזְנַיִם כָּרִיתָ לִּי עֹולָה וַחֲטָאָה לֹא שָׁאָֽלְתָּ אָז אָמַרְתִּי הִנֵּה־בָאתִי  בִּמְגִלַּת־סֵפֶר כָּתוּב עָלָי לַֽעֲשֹֽׂות־רְצֹונְךָ אֱלֹהַי חָפָצְתִּי וְתֹורָתְךָ בְּתֹוךְ מֵעָי	sacrifice and offering you did not delight in, ears you have dug for me, burnt offering and sin offering you did not require, then I said Here I come, in the roll of the writing is inscribed of me, to do your will my God I delighted		Psalm 40:6-8 Hebrews 10:5-7	Ears you have dug - or a body you have prepared. Ears reminds me of the servant song in Isaiah 50. Body is good too - the whole body is taught through the ear opened. Psalm 40 is delightful. This human is like the one who created Psalm 119. It is not piety but joy that moves a person so.
נְאֻם יְהוָה לַאדֹנִי שֵׁב לִימִינִי עַד־אָשִׁית אֹיְבֶיךָ הֲדֹם לְרַגְלֶיךָ	a proclamation of יְהוָה to my Lord Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool		Psalm 110:1 Hebrews 10:12-13	This psalm carries the thought of the author through 5 chapters.
כִּי־יָדִין יְהוָה עַמֹּו וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם	for יְהוָה will judge his people and all his servants he will console		Psalm 135:14 Hebrews 10:30	In the end, it should be noted that the judgment of יְהוָה is wholly positive.
Confidence and Praise also learned from the Psalms
בֵּֽאלֹהִים בָּטַחְתִּי לֹא אִירָא מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה אָדָם לִי	In God I will trust I will not fear What will humus do to me?		Psalm 56:11 Hebrews 13:6	on the disabled, mute, bound dove in the distance, of David, a miktam - the Psalms are the biggest and best book of the Bible. Read them all.
יְהוָה לִי לֹא אִירָא מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה לִי אָדָם	יְהוָה for me - I will not fear What can a human do to me?		Psalm 118:6 Hebrews 13:6	Read a little further in Psalm 118 and you find destruction by circumcision. How does the Created order overcome its self-centered self-destructive actions? It chooses the sign of circumcision and in such prefigures the death of Jesus (Colossians 2:11).The gospel then invites self-destruction in Christ Jesus establishing our death and passage through judgment. The new life that follows confirms the rightness of the choice. Our choice - our being chosen. This is the narrow door of election and the means of digging our ears.
זְבַח לֵאלֹהִים תֹּודָה וְשַׁלֵּם לְעֶלְיֹון נְדָרֶיךָ	Sacrifice thanksgiving to God and pay your vows to the Most High		Psalm 50:14 Hebrews 13:15	A Sacrifice of thanksgiving is all that is left to do. Today was not an easy day - again I made lots of mistakes and had to undo them. My logic needs the cutting edge of others' criticism. I know it is no easier for anyone else. I will find thanksgiving in the blooms of the garden and in a restful weekend.

Psalm 119 - Part 20 Grammar

רְאֵה עָנְיִי וְחַלְּצֵנִי כִּי תוֹרָתְךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי	Regard my affliction and deliver me for your teaching I do not forget
רִיבָה רִיבִי וּגְאָלֵנִ לְאִמְרָתְךָ חַיֵּנִי	Reason my reason and redeem me in your promise give me life
רָחוֹק מֵרְשָׁעִים יְשׁוּעָה כִּי חֻקֶּיךָ לֹא דָרָשׁוּ	Remote is salvation from the wicked for your statutes they do not seek
רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהוָה כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנִי	Rich are your mercies יְהוָה by your judgments give me life
רַבִּים רֹדְפַי וְצָרָי מֵעֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ לֹא נָטִיתִי	Running after me are my many troublers from your testimonies I do not waver
רָאִיתִי בֹגְדִים וָאֶתְקוֹטָטָה אֲשֶׁר אִמְרָתְךָ לֹא שָׁמָרוּ	Regarded I transgressors and I was distressed that your promise they disregard
רְאֵה כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ אָהָבְתִּי יְהוָה כְּחַסְדְּךָ חַיֵּנִי	Regard how I love your precepts יְהוָה in your loving kindness give me life
רֹאשׁ דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת וּלְעוֹלָם כָּל מִשְׁפַּט צִדְקֶךָ	Right away your word is truth and for ever is every judgment of your righteousness

R has at least the benefit of many words in English.There are three pleas for life in part 20. They are all at the end of a colon - why should English poetry change their place? (In my prior versions I smoothed out the English. There was in these cases no need to do this. There was no need to do this in these cases. In these cases to do this there was no need. No need was there in these cases this to do. Seven cola end with action in the Hebrew. Since we all share the same linear time, seven English cola should with action also end. The ending actions follow a pattern: I - give me life - then - give me life - I - they - give me life - you.

Details

r)éh `anyy	רְאֵה עָנְיִי	Regard my affliction	qal imperative+singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun affix
vxàlcény	וְחַלְּצֵנִי	and deliver me	connecting conjunction+qal imperative+object pronoun
ky tvoratka	כִּי תוֹרָתְךָ	for your instruction	conjunction+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix
lo)	לֹא	not	negative particle
shakaxty	שָׁכָחְתִּי	do I forget	qal perfect first person
rybah	רִיבָה	reason	qal imperative
ryby	רִיבִי	my reason	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun affix
vug)alény	וּגְאָלֵנִי	and redeem me	connector+qal imperative+object pronoun
l)imratka	לְאִמְרָתְךָ	in your promise	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix
xàyény	חַיֵּנִי	give me life	piel imperative+object pronoun
raxvoq	רָחוֹק	remote	adjective
mérsha`ym	מֵרְשָׁעִים	from the wicked	preposition+plural noun
yshvu`ah	יְשׁוּעָה	is salvation	noun
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
lo) darashvu	לֹא דָרָשׁוּ	they do not seek	negative particle+third person qal perfect
ràxameyka	רַחֲמֶיךָ	your mercies	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
ràbym	רַבִּים	are rich (great /...)	plural adjective
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	divine name
kmishpa+eyka	כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ	by your judgments	preposition+plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
xàyény	חַיֵּנִי	give me life	piel imperative+object pronoun
ràbym	רַבִּים	are many	plural adjective
rodpày	רֹדְפַי	runners after me (my persecutors)	participle with first person possessive pronoun
vcaray	וְצָרָי	and my troublers	conjunction+plural noun with first person possessive pronoun
mé`édvoteyka	מֵעֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	from your testimonies	preposition+plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
lo)	לֹא	not	negative particle
na+yty	נָטִיתִי	do I waver	qal perfect first person
ra)yty	רָאִיתִי	regarded I	qal perfect first person
bogdym	בֹגְדִים	transgressors	plural noun
va)etqvo+a+ah	וָאֶתְקוֹטָטָה	and I was distressed	hithpolel imperfect note the double tet! And the extra taf in the prefix
)asher	אֲשֶׁר	that	relative pronoun
)imratka	אִמְרָתְךָ	your promise	singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix
lo) shamarvu	לֹא שָׁמָרוּ	they disregard	negative particle+third person qal perfect
r)éh	רְאֵה	regard	imperative
ky piqvudeyka	כִּי פִקּוּדֶיךָ	for your precepts	conjunction + plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
)ahabty	אָהָבְתִּי	I love	first person qal perfect - note how many of these I have rendered as continuing present
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	divine name
kxàsdka	כְּחַסְדְּךָ	by your loving kindness	preposition+singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix
xàyény	חַיֵּנִי	give me life	third time this request - pronoun affixed as object
ro)sh dbarka	רֹאשׁ דְּבָרְךָ	right away your word	noun in construct + singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix
)emet	אֱמֶת	is truth	noun predicate - implied copula
vul`volam	וּלְעוֹלָם	and for ever	connector + preposition+noun - why move it in the sentence?
kal mishpà+	כָּל מִשְׁפַּט	every judgment of	adjective+noun
cidqka	צִדְקֶךָ	your righteousness	singular noun with second person singular possessive pronoun affix

On Finishing the Psalter

I have asked questions about the translation of a curious piece of Hebrew here. I really should have posted the text on this blog since it pertains specifically to the psalter. Two respondents (Rachel Barenblat of the Velveteen Rabbi and Joel Hoffman of God Didn't Say That so far have contributed to a partial solution to the questions asked.

After 40 of 44 grammar exercises, (see the links on letter by letter at the side) I am beginning to understand grammar better. I am also working my way slowly though a book on The Verbless Clause in Biblical Hebrew. I loved essays number 1 and 3 - wonderful exercises in presenting the raw data: Pivotal Issues in Analyzing the Verbless Clause by Cynthia Miller. And Are Nominal Clauses a Distinct Clausal Type? by Cameron Sinclair. Sinclair was a relief after Walter Gross Is there Really a Compound Nominal Clause in Biblical Hebrew?  I think he concluded yes - but I was somewhat mystified.

Gross, like Buth, whom I am reading now, introduce a number of new terms that I find of limited usefulness. They don't stick in my memory. Sinclair, in contrast, offers example after example where 'to be' was in a clause with exactly the same pattern of subject and predicate as clauses without 'to be'. He concluded "that nominal or verbless sentences exhibit the same range of complement types as sentences that appear with the verb 'to be' when it functions as a copula."

Buth is going over generative-functional grammar concepts. I can spell these and I have read some of my son-in-law's work on the subject, but the terminology is not exactly reader-friendly. He does consider some aspects of tone that I think are very important - not for semantics but for impact. I don't think I will ever be able to communicate Hebrew to English readers purely by the reading of a book as if I were reading Winnie-the-Pooh to someone. But I assure you, I don't read WtP monotonically - a non-English speaking person would get much of the story from tone and presence in the aural performance. My model for this reading was Maurice Evans - who did these stories on vinyl years ago. They are available here and are wonderful. I would like to hear the Bible read this way in English with a good literal translation - retaining as much word-order as possible because of the dramatic effects (fronting is what Buth would say). But we need to hear - not explain with big words.

We have a long way to go.

Psalm 119 - Part 19 Grammar

קָרָאתִי בְכָל לֵב עֲנֵנִי יְהוָה חֻקֶּיךָ אֶצֹּרָה	Queried I with a whole heart, hear me יְהוָה I will observe your statutes
קְרָאתִיךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְאֶשְׁמְרָה עֵדֹתֶיךָ	Queried I you, save me and I will keep your testimonies
קִדַּמְתִּי בַנֶּשֶׁף וָאֲשַׁוֵּעָה  לִדְבָרְךָ יִחָלְתִּי	Quested I in a twilight hour and I cried out on your word I wait
קִדְּמוּ עֵינַי אַשְׁמֻרוֹת לָשִׂיחַ בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ	Quested my eyes in the night watches to meditate on your promise
קוֹלִי שִׁמְעָה כְחַסְדֶּךָ יְהוָה כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ חַיֵּנִי	Quest of mine, hear by your loving kindness יְהוָה give me life by your judgments
קָרְבוּ רֹדְפֵי זִמָּה מִתּוֹרָתְךָ רָחָקוּ	Quite near are those following mischief they are far from your teaching
קָרוֹב אַתָּה יְהוָה וְכָל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ אֱמֶת	Quite near are you יְהוָה and all your commandments are truth
קֶדֶם יָדַעְתִּי מֵעֵדֹתֶיךָ כִּי לְעוֹלָם יְסַדְתָּם	Quite from of old I knew from your testimonies for you established them from everlasting

Details - two queries, three quests and three quites - no wonder Q is worth 10 points as a first letter!
I have done some oddball glosses for some of these prepositions - I don't want explanations to get in the way of the poem - for instance, does the poet quiet a little during this segment? What could be known 'from' testimonies? Is it that they in their presence in us speak even before we have knowledge?

What can I say below word by word that is not now obvious grammatically?  Oh well - what I have to do is go through the motions as if this were a final exam and something pops out that I wasn't expecting when I began - like correcting a few errors.

qara)ty	קָרָאתִי	Queried I	First person qal perfect
bkal léb	בְכָל לֵב	with all heart	preposition + qualifier + noun
`anény	עֲנֵנִי	hear me	imperative with object pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	LORD	divine name
xuqeyka	חֻקֶּיךָ	your statutes	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
)ecorah	אֶצֹּרָה	I will observe	first person qal imperfect
qra)tyka	קְרָאתִיךָ	Queried I you	First person qal perfect+object pronoun
hvoshy`ény	הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי	save me	hiphil imperative+object pronoun
v)eshmrah	וְאֶשְׁמְרָה	and I will keep	connector+first person qal imperfect
`édoteyka	עֵדֹתֶיךָ	your testimonies	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
qidàmty	קִדַּמְתִּי	quested I	first person piel perfect
bànesheph	בַנֶּשֶׁף	in a twilight hour	preposition+noun indefinite
va)ashàvué`ah	וָאֲשַׁוֵּעָה	and I cried out	connector+first person qal imperfect
lidbarka	לִדְבָרְךָ	on your word	preposition+singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
yixalty	יִחָלְתִּי	I wait	first person piel perfect
qidmvu	קִדְּמוּ	quested	third person plural piel perfect (piel is invisible without the dot in these cases)
`éynày	עֵינַי	my eyes	plural noun with first person singular possessive pronoun as subject
)àshmurvot	אַשְׁמֻרוֹת	in the night watches	no preposition but required in English + plural noun
lasyàx	לָשִׂיחַ	to meditate	preposition+qal infinitive
b)imrateka	בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ	on your promise	preposition+singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
qvoly	קוֹלִי	Quest of mine	singular noun with first person singular possessive pronoun as object of
shim`ah	שִׁמְעָה	hear	imperative (qal)
kxàsdeka	כְחַסְדֶּךָ	by your loving kindness	preposition+singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
yy	יְהוָה	LORD	divine name
kmishpa+eka	כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶךָ	by your judgments	preposition+plural noun with second person possessive pronoun - my gloss for as/ /according to is short and unexpected
xàyény	חַיֵּנִי	give me life	imperative (piel note dot in yod) with object pronoun
qarbvu	קָרְבוּ	quite near	third person plural (they come near)
rodpéy	רֹדְפֵי	are those following	participle in construct
zimah	זִמָּה	mischief	noun
mitvoratka	מִתּוֹרָתְךָ	from your instruction	preposition+singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
raxaqvu	רָחָקוּ	they are far	third person plural
qarvob	קָרוֹב	quite near	adjective as predicate
)àtah	אַתָּה	are you	pronoun as subject
yy	יְהוָה	LORD	divine name
vkal micvoteyka	וְכָל מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	and all your commandments	connector+qualifier+plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
)emet	אֱמֶת	are truth	noun - implied copula
qdem	קֶדֶם	quite from of old	temporal reference
yadà`ty	יָדַעְתִּי	I knew	first person qal perfect
mé`édoteyka	מֵעֵדֹתֶיךָ	from your testimonies	preposition+plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction indicating cause
l`volam	לְעוֹלָם	to everlasting	preposition+noun
ysàdtam	יְסַדְתָּם	you established them	second person qal perfect+object pronoun

Psalm 119 - Part 18 Grammar

צַדִּיק אַתָּה יְהוָה וְיָשָׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ	So just you are יְהוָה and your judgments are straightforward
צִוִּיתָ צֶדֶק עֵדֹתֶיךָ וֶאֱמוּנָה מְאֹד	Set you have the righteousness of your testimonies and great faithfulness
צִמְּתַתְנִי קִנְאָתִי כִּי שָׁכְחוּ דְבָרֶיךָ צָרָי	Struck me out did my zeal for my troublers forgot your words
צְרוּפָה אִמְרָתְךָ מְאֹד וְעַבְדְּךָ אֲהֵבָהּ	Smeltered greatly is your promise and your servant loves it
צָעִיר אָנֹכִי וְנִבְזֶה פִּקֻּדֶיךָ לֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי	Small am I and of no account I have not forgotten your precepts
צִדְקָתְךָ צֶדֶק לְעוֹלָם וְתוֹרָתְךָ אֱמֶת	Saving righteousness - yours - is righteousness for ever and your teaching is truth
צַר וּמָצוֹק מְצָאוּנִי מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי	Strain and struggle stress me your commandments are my delight
צֶדֶק עֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ לְעוֹלָם הֲבִינֵנִי וְאֶחְיֶה	Such righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting let me understand and I will live

Alas, English has no corresponding initial sound to Tsade so I am reduced to an S. Look for my compensating repetition of s's and t's. Above is my usual grammar colour and a few keywords in this segment of the poem. Below I will try and indicate subject and predicate.

Details

càdyq	צַדִּיק	so just	predicate
)àtah	אַתָּה	you	subject
yy	יְהוָה	O LORD	subject, apposition
vyashar	וְיָשָׁר	and straightforward	conjunction+predicate
mishpa+eyka	מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ	your judgments	subject
civuyta	צִוִּיתָ	set (commanded, constituted, appointed) you have	verb second person singular
cedeq	צֶדֶק	the righteousness of	Can righteousness modify testimonies as an adjective when it is not in agreement in number? I don't think so - so I am taking this as construct
`édoteyka	עֵדֹתֶיךָ	your testimonies	completing the construct predicate - usual plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
ve)emvunah	וֶאֱמוּנָה	and faithfulness	now what does this phrase modify?
m)od	מְאֹד	great	does it apply to the testimonies or does it stand alone as a second predicate? Adjective modifying faithfulness I think.
cimtàtny	צִמְּתַתְנִי	struck me out	This is a very amusing gloss - but it does mean what it says if you allow the baseball idiom!
qin)aty	קִנְאָתִי	my zeal	singular pronoun subject of the prior verb
ky shakxvu	כִּי שָׁכְחוּ	for they forgot	the reason for the strikeout
dbareyka	דְבָרֶיךָ	your words	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun
caray	צָרָי	my troublers	plural noun with first person possessive pronoun
crvupah	צְרוּפָה	smeltered is	pure - so smeltered as refined
)imratka	אִמְרָתְךָ	your promise	singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
m)od	מְאֹד	greatly	modifying the verb
v`àbdka	וְעַבְדְּךָ	and your servant	singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
)ahébah	אֲהֵבָהּ	loves it	Third person singular qal perfect with feminine object pronoun. I sometimes miss these. Of course you have to read the entire Lambdin before you can start on anything. It's not the way I live. I learn by doing and my sieve has holes in it so I miss things.
ca`yr	צָעִיר	small	Predicate
)anoky	אָנֹכִי	am I	subject - stand-alone pronoun
vnibzeh	וְנִבְזֶה	and of no account	connector+niphal participle
piqudeyka	פִּקֻּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun object of the verb to come
lo)	לֹא	not	negative particle
shakaxty	שָׁכָחְתִּי	have I forgotten	first person qal perfect
cidqatka	צִדְקָתְךָ	saving righteousness yours	singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
cedeq	צֶדֶק	is righteousness	implied copula
l`volam	לְעוֹלָם	for ever	to the age, preposition+noun
vtvoratka	וְתוֹרָתְךָ	and your instruction	connector+singular noun with second person possessive pronoun
)emet	אֱמֶת	is truth	implied copula+noun
càr vumacvoq	צַר וּמָצוֹק	strain and struggle	the poet is showing off assonance
mca)vuny	מְצָאוּנִי	stress me	read the st backwards and you have ts! This is of course a third person plural with an object pronoun
micvoteyka	מִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	your commandments	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun - subject
shà`ashu`ay	שַׁעֲשֻׁעָי	are my delight	predicate implied copula singular noun with first person possessive pronoun
cedeq	צֶדֶק	such righteousness of	Need the s but 'such' isn't there
`édvoteyka	עֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	your testimonies	plural noun with second person possessive pronoun - subject
l`volam	לְעוֹלָם	is everlasting	preposition+noun predicate with implied copula
habynény	הֲבִינֵנִי	have me understand	must he a hiphil imperative+pronoun object
v)exyeh	וְאֶחְיֶה	and I will live	connector+first person imperfect

Psalm 119 - Part 17 Grammar

פְּלָאוֹת עֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ עַל כֵּן נְצָרָתַם נַפְשִׁי	Plenty of wonders are your testimonies therefore my being will observe them
פֵּתַח דְּבָרֶיךָ יָאִיר מֵבִין פְּתָיִים	Penetration of your words gives light making wise the peon
פִּי פָעַרְתִּי וָאֶשְׁאָפָה כִּי לְמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ יָאָבְתִּי	Part I my mouth and sigh heavily for to your commandments is my desire
פְּנֵה אֵלַי וְחָנֵּנִי כְּמִשְׁפָּט לְאֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ	Put your face to me and have mercy on me according to the judgment of those loving your name
פְּעָמַי הָכֵן בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ וְאַל תַּשְׁלֶט בִּי כָל אָוֶן	Place my steps in your promise and do not let any mischief have grasp over me
פְּדֵנִי מֵעֹשֶׁק אָדָם וְאֶשְׁמְרָה פִּקּוּדֶיךָ	Preserve me from the oppression of a human and I will keep your precepts
פָּנֶיךָ הָאֵר בְּעַבְדֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנִי אֶת חֻקֶּיךָ	Pyre your face on your servant and teach me Oh! your statutes
פַּלְגֵי מַיִם יָרְדוּ עֵינָי עַל לֹא שָׁמְרוּ תוֹרָתֶךָ	Pouring streams run down from my eyes that they do not keep your teaching

Details - in line with my reading of the Verbless Cause in Biblical Hebrew book, I am going to begin to identify the subject / predicate in each of the cola. Some results that I see in narrative verses from the subject book I find quite unexpected - like places where the adjective is postponed till the end of the sentence. E.g. Numbers 32:1 - where's the subject? Where's the predicate? I think there is a mistranslation when the translator collects all the bits of the subject together and makes it sound like 'natural' English. If you are translating a story, then don't mess up the original story-teller's drama. How would you phrase this opening of the chapter?

and livestock many there were to the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad - substantial - lots

וּמִקְנֶה רַב הָיָה לִבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְלִבְנֵי־גָד עָצוּם מְאֹד

Here's my suggestion

And there were many livestock belonging to the children of Reuben and the children of Gad,

a substantial amount.

pla)vot	פְּלָאוֹת	Plenty of wonders	plural adjective feminine form - predicate
`édvoteyka	עֵדְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	are your testimonies	plural noun with second person personal possessive pronoun - subject
`àl kén	עַל כֵּן	therefore	conjunction
ncaratàm	נְצָרָתַם	will observe them	third person singular with pronoun object - predicate
nàpshy	נַפְשִׁי	my being	soul, life, me, singular noun with possessive first person pronoun - subject
pétàx	פֵּתַח	Penetration of	Opening construct subject
dbareyka	דְּבָרֶיךָ	your words	completing the construct plural possessive - subject
ya)yr	יָאִיר	gives light	predicate (hiphil?) singular third person imperfect
mébyn	מֵבִין	making wise	hiphil participle
ptayym	פְּתָיִים	the simple	peon and penetrate match the sound game in the Hebrew - the phrase is consequential, the word is plural masculine form
py pa`àrty	פִּי פָעַרְתִּי	Part I my mouth	object-verb (perfect)
va)esh)apah	וָאֶשְׁאָפָה	and sigh heavily	connector + preterite both verbs first person
ky	כִּי	for	conjunction
lmicvoteyka	לְמִצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ	in your commandments	predicate plural feminine possessive singular second person - this needs some longing for an effective translation
ya)abty	יָאָבְתִּי	I have longed	perfect first person
pnéh )élày	פְּנֵה אֵלַי	Put your face to me	qal imperative with preposition and first person pronoun as object
vxanény	וְחָנֵּנִי	and have mercy on me	qal imperative with first person object
kmishpa+	כְּמִשְׁפָּט	for judgment	the kaf preposition makes me want to get across the 'like' aspect rather than a 'causative' aspect - that forces me into construct thinking
l)ohabéy	לְאֹהֲבֵי	to those loving	the lamed preposition makes me wonder if I have missed the point - what kind of vindication does the poet have in mind?
shmeka	שְׁמֶךָ	your name	predicate noun with possessive second person singular pronoun
p`amày	פְּעָמַי	my steps	This is a tall order - plural noun object with first person possessive pronoun thus truncating the usual plural ending
hakén	הָכֵן	Place	imperative
b)imrateka	בְּאִמְרָתֶךָ	in your promise	what a secure place
v)àl tàshle+	וְאַל תַּשְׁלֶט	and let not have grasp	conjunction + negative particle + imperfect jussive
by	בִּי	over me	preposition + pronoun
kal )aven	כָל אָוֶן	any mischief	subject of the prior verb
pdény	פְּדֵנִי	preserve me	imperative
mé`osheq	מֵעֹשֶׁק	from the oppression	preposition + construct as object
)adam	אָדָם	of a human	rest of the construct
v)eshmrah	וְאֶשְׁמְרָה	and I will keep	qal imperfect first person
piqvudeyka	פִּקּוּדֶיךָ	your precepts	plural possessed noun
paneyka	פָּנֶיךָ	your face	singular possessed noun
ha)ér	הָאֵר	pyre	hiphil - from the fire of creation - let there be light
b`àbdeka	בְּעַבְדֶּךָ	on your servant	you can do this one
vlàmdény	וְלַמְּדֵנִי	and teach me	and this one
)et xuqeyka	אֶת חֻקֶּיךָ	Oh your statutes	the 'Oh' is not needed!
pàlgéy màyim	פַּלְגֵי מַיִם	pouring streams	these flowing waters remind us of Psalms 1, 42, 46
yardvu	יָרְדוּ	descend from	descending - flowing - running down like the dew of Hermon in Psalm 133
`éynay	עֵינָי	my eyes	clear grammar, right?
`àl lo) shamrvu	עַל לֹא שָׁמְרוּ	that they do not keep	there is no because here - the preposition is simpler
tvorateka	תוֹרָתֶךָ	your instruction	teaching or instruction is preferable to law

Psalm 27 - a reflection

I recently updated my translation of Psalm 27, our lectionary psalm on Sunday. I am still in favour of terse poetry when translating Hebrew. But that doesn't stop the elaboration of the prayer. I have coloured what may be keywords in the psalm. These are words that bind the thought of the psalm together. They are often repeated in patterns - so stop. look. and listen. as you 'read'. (Also see the link below to Neale's commentary now fully online and rich in detail of the reception history of the psalms within Christendom.)

of David
This is a song of the beloved for the gifts known in a complex and troubled world

יְהוָה
my light and my deliverance
whom will I fear?
יְהוָה
the strength of my life
whom will I dread?

Do we need the copula - an endless progression of forms of the verb 'to be'?  Does the translator have to force one reading of the text? (It is common for the translator to spell out one of many possible ways of combining nouns in Hebrew verbless clauses. This is sometimes more a paraphrase than a translation. It is always a choice.)

in drawing near to me
 to break
to eat even my flesh
my troublers and my enemies

I used 'break' to allude to psalm 2 - 'you will break them with a rod of iron'. Also reflecting on the Eucharist, break and eat show the king absorbing the evil brought against him.

they - to me
they stumbled and fell

You can make one sentence out of these 6 lines as in the traditional translation (When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.) but why not pause and savour the construction? The pronoun 'they' is explicit and the construction 'to me' is repeated. Here is the warning not to eat the Eucharist lightly. (See the comment on this verse in the link to Neale below where this idea is also expressed in the Gallican tradition.)

If an army against me is armed
my heart will not fear
if war arises against me
in this I - even I will trust

'this' is unspecified as to its antecedent. Is it the confidence of verse 1 or does it refer to the armies armed against me? I have repeated the 'I' since the pronoun is (again unnecessarily) explicit in the Hebrew.

One thing I have desired from יְהוָה
 that thing I will seek
that I may live in the house of יְהוָה
all the days of my life
to gaze on the beauty of יְהוָה
 and to reflect in his temple

What in his temple will I reflect? Or is the gloss 'inquire' better? I chose reflect because of the visual sense of the prior word and the 'seek' is already suggesting determined inquiry.

for he will treasure me in his booth in a day of evil
he will hide me hidden in his tent
on a rock he will raise me up

Some degree of concordance is required to show the poet's use of language even in translation - so I have chosen 'hide' for those roots related to hide and treasure for the other (re treasure compare Exodus 2:2-3 and Song 7:13 - the word is also a theme in Job. See my brief and incomplete word study on cover, secret, hide, conceal, withdraw.)

and now my head will be raised up above my enemies surrounding me
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices of joy

Sacrifice and offering from the one who is raised up. I wonder if people have used this as anticipation of the intercession of the risen Jesus as described by the letter to the Hebrews. (See what you can find in J. M. Neale 4 volume commentary on the Psalms, primitive and medieval writers and from the various office books and hymns of the Roman, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Gallican, Greek, Coptic, Armenian, and Syriac Rites. Online and open at the right page here.)

I will sing and I will give praise to יְהוָה
Hear יְהוָה
my voice
I will call
have mercy on me and answer me

The encounter is heart to heart and face to face.

You said to my heart
seek my face
even your face יְהוָה
I will seek

do not hide your face from me
do not push your servant away in anger

Notice how hide surrounds this part of the text. I always look for such repetition in prose and poetry.
There is a little motet by Farrant based on this verse.

You became my help
you will not leave me and you will not forsake me
O God of my deliverance
for my father and my mother forsake me
but יְהוָה
will gather me

I did not use salvation but deliverance here and above. I like salvation but it is so talked about that we cannot hear its impact. Deliverance followed by trouble is the outer envelope of this psalm. Evil turns up once in the middle too itself surrounded by the seek-hide paired sequence.

Teach me יְהוָה
your way
and lead me in a plain path for the sake of my watchers
do not give me to the throat of my troublers
for false witnesses are set against me breathing violence

Who are the players in this psalm: the troublers, the enemies, the watchers, the false witnesses? (The watchers as a word occurs 5 times only and all these are in the psalms. That gloss for (shurar) שורר is in BDB  page 1004 but is not noted in my Hebrew-Latin concordance. The KJV renders the word as enemies - but what sort of enemies? Plug it into Google translate and see what you get.)

...what if I had not believed I would see the goodness of יְהוָה
in the land of the living?

One could see life and living as another word pairing.

wait on יְהוָה
be resolute and he will assure your heart
so wait on יְהוָה