About

The writing here is about my learning of Hebrew by translating the psalms. I began this process in August 2006. At the time, - following the Hebrews conference at St Andrew's - I had determined to learn the psalms since the psalms are so important in the New Testament - particularly in the book of Hebrews where they provide the text of most of the dialogue between the Father and the Son. By such learning, I hope to improve my hearing of the words of the New Testament.

I had played at learning Hebrew for years but had taken no serious steps though I had tried to read Lambdin several times without success. A little every day - diving straight in - proved to be the approach that got me well and truly started. At present there is

1. a full visual display of my earliest diagrams - all 150 psalms with the words arranged vertically and many of them in colour to show how the psalmist formed the verses. Colourful portrait of the Psalter
2. a full set of second draft translations in English - links are in the right hand column
   
3. a draft of a structural portrait Structural thematic map

Learning the psalms is a cure for the tendency to parochialism. The inclusiveness in the psalms is exhibited in Psalm 118 among many.

Give thanks to יְהוָה for good

כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ for his mercy is forever

Let Israel then say for his mercy is forever

Let the house of Aaron then say for his mercy is forever

Let all who fear יְהוָה then say for his mercy is forever

Let all you who read and write - let all say

for his mercy is forever

If you want to learn Hebrew and are just beginning, I am teaching a letter a week in Sunday School to children aged 4 to 12. It is just plain fun and the blog record is here: St Barnabas Sunday School

On Sufficiency - a companion blog, I have explored Job and Ruth - to learn grammar better. There are also a few posts and diagrams on Genesis, Proverbs and the Song, personal opinions, reviews and stories.

On Dust - the Poetry of Christ, I have completely reread the psalms and posted them with music and my first full attempt at seeing poetic structure in the Hebrew and forming the English to follow it.

I believed therefore I have spoken.