Thursday OPP – Psalms 24

Let us begin with just the consonants of the Masoretic Text:

לדוד מזמור
ליהוה הארץ ומלואה
תבל וישבי בה
כי הוא על-ימים יסדה
ועל-נהרות יכוננה

מי-יעלה בהר יהוה
ומי-יקום במקום קדשו
נקי כפים ובר לבב
אשר לא-נשא לשוא נפשי
ולא נשבע למרמה
ישא ברכה מאת יהוה
וצדקה מאלהי ישעו
זה דור דרשיו
מבקשי פניך יעקב סלה

שאו שערים ראשיכם
והנשאו פתחי עולם
ויבוא מלך הכבוד
מי זה מלך הכבוד
יהוה עזוז וגבור
יהוה גבור מלחמה

שאו שערים ראשיכם
ושאו פתחי עולם
ויבוא מלך הכבוד
מי הוא זה מלך הכבוד
יהוה צבאות
הוא מלך הכבוד סלה

To these the Masoretic Text adds vowel-points and musical accents, which I cannot duplicate here.

One of the functions of the musical accents [te`amim (טעמים)] is to indicate the “cadential hierarchy” of the “melopoesis” (combination of melody and poetry). I have developed a way of marking and defining that hierarchy in Psalms:

| = minor cadence
/ = preparatory cadence
// = suspensive cadence
/// = half cadence
//// = full cadence

A verse in Psalms normally consists of up to four clauses, which are normally split in turn into two phrases each. The minor cadence splits a clause into phrases; the others are major cadences which split the verse into a hierarchy of clauses. No verse in Psalms 24 has more than three clauses or fewer than two phrases per clause.

Here is how the cadential hierarchy appears in a typical four-clause verse:

text | text / = this clause prepares the reader for what follows
text | text // = this clause “leaves the reader hanging”, awaiting resolution
text | text /// = this clause resolves the verse halfway
text | text //// = this clause resolves the verse fully

Psalms 27:6 is a good example of such a verse:

And now | my head shall be lifted up /
above my enemies | round about me //
and I will offer in his tent | sacrifices of joy ///
I will sing and make melody | to the LORD ////

But how the cadential hierarchy functions is not always so evident from the words alone. It is best perceived through what actually marks the hierarchy: the combination of melody and words which Suzanne Haik-Vantoura’s decipherment of the musical accents enables us to hear and to follow.

This YouTube video presents the Hebrew consonantal text plus the following transliteration and translation, clause by clause (but without all the vertical and slanted lines). The asterisks (*) mark places where the marginal notes of the Masoretic Text instruct the reader to read something other than what the written text actually says.

wr ()()

le-da-vid | miz-mor //
la-do-nay | ha-a-rets um-lo-ah ///
te-vel | ve-yosh-vey vah ////
ki hu | `al ya-mim ye-sa-dah ///
ve-`al ne-ha-rot | ye-khon-ne-hah ////

mi ya-`a-le | ve-har a-do-nay ///
u-mi ya-qum | bim-qom qod-sho ////
ne-qi kha-pa-yim | u-var le-vav //
a-sher lo na-sa la-shav | naf-shi* ///
ve-lo nish-ba | le-mir-ma ////
yi-sa ve-ra-kha | me-et a-do-nay ///
uts-da-qa | me-e-lo-hey yish-`o ////
ze | dor dor-shav* ///
me-vaq-shey fa-ney-kha | ya-`a-qov se-la ////

se-u she-`a-rim | ra-shey-khem //
ve-hi-nas-u | pit-hey `o-lam ///
ve-ya-vo | me-lekh ha-ka-vod ////
mi ze | me-lekh ha-ka-vod //
a-do-nay | i-zuz ve-gi-bor ///
a-do-nay | gi-bor mil-ha-ma ////
se-u she-`a-rim | ra-shey-khem //
us-u | pit-hey `o-lam ///
ve-ya-vo | me-lekh ha-ka-vod ////
mi hu ze | me-lekh ha-ka-vod //
a-do-nay | tse-va-ot ///
hu me-lekh ha-ka-vod | se-la ////

Of David | a Psalm //
To the LORD (is) | the earth and all that fills it ///
the world | and those who dwell in it ////
For he | above the seas has founded it ///
and above the rivers | has established it ////

Who may ascend | on the hill of the LORD ///
or who may stand | in the place of his holiness ////
(He who is) clean of hands | and pure of heart //
who has not lifted up to vanity | my soul* ///
and not has sworn | deceitfully ////
He shall receive blessing | from the LORD ///
and righteousness | from the God of his salvation ////
This (is) | the generation of his seekers ///
the seekers of your face | (even) Jacob - weigh (this) ////

Lift up gates | your heads //
and be lifted up | doors of antiquity ///
and shall come in | the King of Glory ////
Who (is) this | King of Glory //
the LORD | strong and mighty ///
the LORD | mighty in battle ////
Lift up gates | your heads //
and lift up | doors of antiquity ///
and shall come in | the King of Glory ////
Who is this | King of Glory //
the LORD | of Hosts ///
he (is) the King of Glory | - weigh (this) ////

fighting words
entries123

from: Christopher Hitchens

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2007

There are four irreducible objections to religious faith: that it wholly misrepresents the origins of man and the cosmos, that because of this original error it manages to combine the maximum of servility with the maximum of solipsism, that it is both the result and the cause of dangerous sexual repression, and that it is ultimately grounded on wish-thinking.

<link>

Dear W. Rabbit,

Other Person's Poem? I suppose in the sense that David penned it. There are still a few of us though who strongly sense the outward breath of our Creator here. Isn't it delightful that God so new our needs that He breaks through the narrative prose of His revelation and ministers to us with Divine poetry. The Psalms have always been a special balm to my soul. There have been times when the Scriptures seemed muted to me. At such dry times I must sit quitely upon the banks of our Lord's flowing river of poetry. It's such a sensitive contemplation---as poetry breaks softly through prose I can once again began to appreciate the beauty of eternity breaking softly into time. He heals me.

I lack the musical scholarship you show here W. Rabbit. I might not ever understand the sweet musical nuances as you do, but I do appreciate your studies and I thank you for posting this wonderful Psalm.

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness therof; the world and they that dwell therin."

An important reminder during troubled days. Though written during the days of Israel's call to be seperated and set apart from the world we can see what is being foretold---that all peoples of the earth are created by, belong to and are accountable unto the Lord. C. Spurgeon wisely comments on this verse, "...If a man be but a man the Lord claims him, and who dares to brand him as a mere piece of merchandise! The meanest of men is a dweller in the world, and therefore belongs to Jehovah. Jesus Christ has made an end to the exclusiveness of nationalities."

Much more could be said but I will hold off for now.

Btw, did you notice that you and I posted at the exact same minute? Ha. How my poem clunks next to the real thing.

Peace Rabbit

Jls;

Since there is no critique of the poem, and its instructive gloss, let me offer just the following -

"dnagerous sexual repression"...ooh yeah, that, that old sexual repression that kept in chains our freedoms/'rights' to Village-dance to the gods of penicillian-resistant gonorrhea, chlymidia, genital herpes, and AIDS. But we revolted, didn't we - goodie for us! Repression is indeed an odious thing. In addition, maby the ACLU could sue the entire medical community into no longer treating these fruits of sexual freedom to any degree whatsowever.

Be interested to read your views on the psalm-poem.

W_R;

First, let me applaude your lambing yourself before the half-jawed lions of NeoRomeAmerica.There are increasing millions here whose spiritual sense is little more than a matter of brain-jogging-over-heels as they dance from womb to grave. So be it.

There was a course I wanted to take in college called "The Bible as Literature" - had neither the time or the $$. Would have treasured from this I am sure.

As a musician with an interest in poetry, I thank you for the tutorial of this post. As a scholarly instance, one hopes, your post should generate a healthy degree of interest and response. Day will tell.

I have determined that I will refrain, to the extent possible, from discussing religion or politics on PFay: too many want to take a brain-dump in these areas. That is their right, 'grows' what it does. Sorry that I cannot attempt a better response to your excellent post, to include the metaphysical aspects. Not in the mood for pisskrieging today.

Best to you and yours.

Carpe Verve

Bratsche, Bratsche, Bratsche, you have made the mistake of making yourself a public fool once again by coming after me. When will you ever learn ?

It would be better if you took up your argument with the man who wrote what you find so distasteful. Then he could make you look like the fool that you are. The words belong to and were written by Christopher Hitches, whom many consider to be one of the most brilliant and important thinkers in the world . That is why Slate has given him a weekly column for a long time now.

He was rated to be one of the top five intellectuals in this country in a poll of thousand of the best minds who offered up their opinion about who was the smartest and most important intellectual around.

A man who I hold in very high esteem . A man who could bury with clear logic , a logic that only intellectuals favor mind you , not the small minded simpleton logic of all of your friends , many of whom fill Poetry Fray with their bullshit day after day after day.

. All you had to do is open the link and see that it was written by Hitchens, but you just had to get out you matches and start burning me and insulting me before any information could make its way into your little hateful reactionary uneducated mind. Way to go nut.

Christopher Hitchens will gladly teach you all the things that you have failed to understand about the religious persecution of women in the name of sexual repression throughout the ages.

So until you have a better grasp of not only reality and the history of religious persecution, you might think about shutting the f up.

Religious repression over thousands of years and recent scientific advancement are two very different subjects entirely Bratschey boy.

Only a poor and confused and reactionary mind would ever think of confusing the two.

Dismissed. That is all.

While I prefer the KJV on all accounts, this was interesting to me because I enjoy finding elements in poetry that resurface generation to generation.

Here we have an ancient Psalm in which two stanzas end with the words "weigh this" -- something I'd never seen before.

What fascinates me is how it resonates in today's rap culture, in which a rap often ends with "Word."

I like that expression so much that I titled the poetry section of my website "Word."

Some of the beats who visited in my home when I was a child would end whatever they were saying with "Dig." or "Dig it."

"Weigh this" is almost the same thing to me. Something out of context almost, unexpected, at the end of a strophe or stanza that stops the reader cold, and returns the focus to the meaning of those lines once more before going on.

A familiar Psalm with an unexpected discovery. Thank you for sharing your scholarship, WR.

Angel

j.l. stix.:

God Is Not Great

fighting words
entries123

from: Christopher Hitchens

Religion Poisons Everything

Posted Wednesday, April 25, 2007

There are four irreducible objections to religious faith: that it wholly misrepresents the origins of man and the cosmos, that because of this original error it manages to combine the maximum of servility with the maximum of solipsism, that it is both the result and the cause of dangerous sexual repression, and that it is ultimately grounded on wish-thinking.

<link>

Dear j.l.stix,

As surprising as both Mr. Hutchins and you might find it, I would agree with much of what Mr. Hutchins complains about in matters of religion. To show where the above summary is wrong (and why) would take a book like Dr. Norman Geisler's generally superb I Don't Have the Faith to be an Atheist (which I am reading through now). Dr. Geisler (whom I saw speak a few nights ago) has debated many atheists, and I doubt if Mr. Hutchins would stand a chance against him. But to show where Mr. Hutchins is right about most of what this world calls religion (even Dr. Geisler's) would be worth doing as well. And nobody would be more willing to do it than I, save here and now is not where I can do it.

This much is worth saying. I find that most atheists assume (whether they know it or not) that simply because they see the faults of false religion, that there is no such thing as true religion. For all their pride in their own reasoning, atheists are by and large the most illogical people I know of, and what I've just said is but one example. Many of them don't even realize that if you're skeptical about one set of beliefs, then you are ipso facto a true believer in another set. Atheists work from axioms just like anyone else; accordingly they distort the origins of man and the cosmos, become enslaved to their own corruptions and indulge in astounding solipsisms and wishful thinking themselves; and some of the greatest abuses in human history can be laid right at the feet of thoroughgoing atheists. So where do they get off, those pots calling the kettles black?

Look -- I know where atheists come from, and false religionists too. I came out of a background that combined skepticism with mysticism. Had I stayed there, I easily could've become what C.S. Lewis called the Devil's perfect work, "the Materialist Magician". By the grace of the One True God (who gives enough evidence for anyone He calls to believe without compelling them to do so), I am not easily fooled by either extreme, let alone by a combination of them.

Best wishes,
wr ()()

Dear stucco,

Thanks for all your comments. Yes, I noticed your posting's timing and nature. Well, don't dengirate yourself too much, but that's the difference between inspirational poetry and inspired poetry -- which is why I generally stick to parodies these days.

I promised Lunesta that I would do something special. I think this qualifies, does it not?

wr ()()

Bratsche:

W_R;

First, let me applaude your lambing yourself before the half-jawed lions of NeoRomeAmerica. (...)

If I may say it, this is one lamb that no lion in his right mind would want to face -- and most of the long-time Fraysters who know me know it. That's one reason why you don't see too many of them debating me, or even baiting me.

The one thing that drives self-willed people crazy is encountering someone who isn't -- even pointing out such a one's mistakes only makes him a stronger opponent.

wr ()()

Dear Angel,

You're welcome. The way selah ("Weigh this!") is used in many Psalms and in Habakkuk 3 - indeed its very meaning - has been the subject of much debate, ever since the days of the Greek Septuagint version. It took the rediscovery of the original melodic rendition ("cantillation") of Hebrew Scripture to make clear what this long-mysterious word means, even though some have guessed correctly from matters of etymology and context alone.

wr ()()

“Dear j.l.stix,

As surprising as both Mr. Hutchins and you might find it, I would agree with much of what Mr. Hutchins complains about in matters of religion.”

Dear rabbit, it was not my intention to get you to defend your beliefs nor was is it my intention to disrespect you or insult you with the opinions of an internationally renowned and highly regarded intellectual or myself who is not so highly regarded. Lol

Mr Hitchens is an anti theist. Against . And you have absolutely no idea where I stand when it comes to many things religious.

Mr Hitchens would rather see a world where religion did not exist, so for you to claim that you respect him or agree with “much what Mr Hitchens complains about”, is in fact an impossibility. And it will always remain so. In spite of your wishful thinking.

Hitchens thinks that people who are religious are idiots, so unless this is your way of publicly declaring yourself one , I fail to understand how you can claim that you agree with him.

And furthermore:

It was not my intention to take away from any discussion of your posted poem, I am just in a cantankerous mood this morning, and I thought I would throw some light into the discussion concerning the darkness of your poem---- , ( that for me would be religion , death ,wars , poverty , priests raping, witch burning, persecution even in modern times, and the Lord, and the King of this and or the King of that--- and your poem. )

Please forgive me………..Good day.

Good choice, WR.

I marvel at how the middle section refers to both the Messiah and to those who put their faith in him for their salvation.

Who may ascend | on the hill of the LORD ///
or who may stand | in the place of his holiness ////
(He who is) clean of hands | and pure of heart //
who has not lifted up to vanity | my soul* ///
and not has sworn | deceitfully ////
He shall receive blessing | from the LORD ///
and righteousness | from the God of his salvation ////
This (is) | the generation of his seekers ///
the seekers of your face | (even) Jacob - weigh (this) ////

Even though, Yeshua was not born in December (the Light of the world was conceived during the Festival of Lights which often falls in December), the message of Psalm 24 is a perfect way to show us why Yeshua is Lord and worthy to be King. That is a message worth hearing at Christmas and throughout the whole year.

NS

PS: I did receive the CD's. Thank you very much. I enjoy playing them at work. I am puzzled at how you knew what church I attend, but not my work or home address.

And thanks again for adding the consonantal Hebrew to the videos. My reading is plodding at best, but by pausing I can decipher many words just by knowing the meaning of the letters. O)ther times I let the music and the sound of the words wash over me.

Bill

Hi White Rabbit,

I was wondering why you classify this psalm or any of the other psalms as poetry.

From your introductory paragraphs, I can see how the rules and conventions of the psalms' original Hebrew version are relevant to song lyrics. And as you know, the etymology of the word psalm reinforces the concept of a psalm as a song.

But I do not think that song lyrics are necessarily poems -- especially since poems are self-contained works, whereas the psalms need to be read/sung/chanted within the context of a set of religious beliefs in order to be fully experienced.

So I hope you will explain the criteria you used to classify psalms as poetry.

Mary Ann

“ACLU could sue the entire medical community into no longer treating these fruits of sexual freedom “

This has got to be one of the most ignorant statements I have ever run across anywhere on Slate.

Bratschey boy steps up to the front of the ignorant class without ever raising his hand.

Sexual repression through out the world is not addressed by the ACLU, so your hatred is delusional.

The majority of the women who are in fact very sexually repressed by religion cant even see a doctor………

Would you please stop your little mush brain from confusing the issue of sexual repression and

Advancements in the medical community .

Are all of these posts written by Ted Burk and Bratsch and other mental midgets on the poems fray written by one person who may or may not be employed by Slate to fill its poetry pages ????? Or its it just further proof that great minds think alike ??? lol

Bratsch. Surrendering now before your loses and humiliation accumulates would be very wise.

Saying that scientific progress negates the very real sexual and religious repression experienced by billions of people worldwide that has been occurring for thousands of years in the name of many religions , is the work of a small mind that should think no more aloud.

The dunce cap is in the closet where you last put it Bratsche. Put it back on and get back into your corner by the window please , and I will make sure that none of your classmates throw things at you like they did the last time. Now move.