POETIC DEVICES AND IMPLICATIONS IN PSALM 19: AN EXEGETICAL STUDY (3)

CHAPTER 3

LITERARY ANALYSIS

In this section, the structure, text, and translation of Psalm 19 is presented and divided according to Major Masoretic Accent (Silluq, Atnah, Ole Weyoret and Rebia). Second, the poetic devices will be identified. Third, the message is discussed exegetically. In addition, verbs parsing are included in the translation.

Text, Metre and Literal Translation

By Major Masoretic Accent

Mariaselvam states that the problem of Hebrew metre arises from the fact that Hebrew metrical system depends very much on the pronunciation and on the accented syllables. Now both the pronunciation and accent depend greatly on the system of Masoretic vowel sign.[1]  According C.A. Briggs the Hebrew metre is based on “words or word accents.” [2]  Franzmann states that Hebrew poetry is similar to our classical verse in its use of choice language, figures of speech, and rhetorical devices. However, the psalms and other poems in the Old Testament do not depend on rhyming words and a strict metrical pattern to achieve cadence. Phonic balance and a regular beat of accented and unaccented syllables gives way to a rhythmic arrangement of thought patterns. ^[3]

Considering the significance of Masoretic accent of the poem, this study employs this method in dividing the meter, and presents the text, translation based on Major Masoretic Disjunctive Accents as follows:

Verse 1

To the director of music a psalm by David

למְנַצֵּ֗ח מִזְמ֥וֹר  לְדָוִֽד׃

Sillug

Verse 2

The heaven declares The glory of God	הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם מְֽסַפְּרִ֥ים כְּבֽוֹד־אֵ֑ל	Atnah	4+4
And the the work of his hand Shows The firmamnent	וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֜דָ֗יו מַגִּ֥יד הָרָקִֽיעַ׃	Silluq

Verse 3

Day bay day It utters speech	י֣וֹם לְ֭יוֹם  יַבִּ֣יעַֽ אֹ֑מֶר	Atnah	4+4
And night by night Reveals knowledge	וְלַ֥יְלָה לְּ֜לַ֗יְלָה  יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת׃	Silluq

Verse 4

There is no speech And there is no words	אֵין־אֹ֭מֶר וְאֵ֣ין דְּבָרִ֑ים	Atnah	4+3
Without hearing their voice	בְּ֜לִ֗י נִשְׁמָ֥ע קוֹלָֽם׃	Silluq

Verse 5

In all the earth Their lines go out	בּכָל־הָאָ֙רֶץ׀  יָ֨צָ֤א קַוָּ֗ם	Rebia	4+4+4
To the end of world Their words	וּבִקְצֵ֣ה תֵ֭בֵל מִלֵּיהֶ֑ם	Atnah
For the sun He places a tent in them	לַ֜שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ שָֽׂם־אֹ֥הֶל בָּהֶֽם׃	Silluq

Verse 6

And it like a bridgroom Going out from its chamber	וְה֗וּא כְּ֭חָתָן יֹצֵ֣א מֵחֻפָּת֑וֹ	Atnah	4+4
Rejoices like a strong man To run its race	יָשִׂ֥ישׂ כְּ֜גִבּ֗וֹר לָר֥וּץ אֹֽרַח׃	Silluq

Verse 7

From the end of heaven Its rising	מִקְצֵ֤ה הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם׀ מֽוֹצָא֗וֹ	Rebia	3+3+3
And its sircle To their end	וּתְקוּפָת֥וֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָ֑ם	Atnah
And there is nothing hidden From its heat	וְאֵ֥ין נִ֜סְתָּ֗ר  מֵֽחַמָּתוֹ׃	Silluq

Verse 8

The law of the LORD is perfect refreshing the soul	תּ֨וֹרַ֤ת יְהוָ֣ה תְּ֭מִימָה מְשִׁ֣יבַת נָ֑פֶש	Atnah	3+2
The statutes of the LORD Is complete making wise the simple	עֵד֥וּת יְהוָ֥ה  נֶ֜אֱמָנָ֗ה  מַחְכִּ֥ימַת פֶּֽתִי׃	Silluq	3+2

Verse 9

The precepts of the LORD are right Giving rejoice to heart	פִּקּ֨וּדֵ֤י יְהוָ֣ה יְ֭שָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵ֑ב	Atnah	3+2
The commands of the LORD are pure cause the eyes to shine	מִצְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֥ה בָּ֜רָ֗ה מְאִירַ֥ת עֵינָֽיִם׃	Rebia Silluq	3+2

Verse 10

The fear of the LORD	יִרְאַ֤ת יְהוָ֙ה׀ טְהוֹרָה֘ עוֹמֶ֪דֶת לָ֫עַ֥ד	Ole weyoret	3+2
The judgments of the LORD is true	מִֽשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהוָ֥ה אֱמֶ֑ת	Atnah	3+2
They have been righteous Together	צָֽדְק֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃	Silluq

Verse 11

They are more desirable More than gold And more pure gold	הַֽנֶּחֱמָדִ֗ים מִ֭זָּהָב וּמִפַּ֣ז רָ֑ב	Atnah	2+2
And sweeter than honey And than flowing honey	וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֜דְּבַ֗שׁ  וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃	Silluq	2+2

Verse 12

Also your servant Is warned in them	גַּֽם־עַ֭בְדְּךָ  נִזְהָ֣ר בָּהֶ֑ם	Atnah	3+3
In keeping them There is a great reward	בְּ֜שָׁמְרָ֗ם עֵ֣קֶב רָֽב׃	Silluq

 Verse 13

His error Who can discern?	שׁגִיא֥וֹת מִֽי־יָבִ֑ין	Atnah	2+2
From hidden faults Cleanse me	מִֽנִּסְתָּר֥וֹת  נַקֵּֽנִי׃	Silluq

Verse 14

also from flagrant sins keep your servant Let them not rule in me	גַּ֤ם מִזֵּדִ֙ים׀ חֲשֹׂ֬ךְ עַבְדֶּ֗ךָ אַֽל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִ֣י	Rebia	3+2
Then I will be perfect I am blameless From mant transgresion	אָ֣ז אֵיתָ֑ם וְ֜נִקֵּ֗יתִי מִפֶּ֥שַֽׁע רָֽב׃	Atnah Silluq	2+3

Verse 15

They become my mouth sayings And become meditation in my heart In your presence	יִֽהְי֥וּ לְרָצ֙וֹן׀ אִמְרֵי־פִ֡י  וְהֶגְי֣וֹן לִבִּ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ	Atnah	3+3+3[4]
	יְ֜הוָ֗ה צוּרִ֥י וְגֹאֲלִֽי׃	Silluq

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5Abraham Mariaselvam, The Song os Songs and Ancient Tamil Love Poems (Roma: Editrice Pontificio Istituto, 1998), 48.

[2] C.A. Briggs, The Book of Psalms: Vol. 1, ICC (Edinburg: ICC, 1907), xxxviii-xliii.

^[3]Walter H. Roehrs and Martin H Franzmann, joint author, Concordia Self-Study Comentary, electronic ed. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1998, c1979), 1:338.

[4] These meters are based on Peter C. Craigie, vol. 19, Word Biblical Commentary : Psalms 1-50, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2002), 178.