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PSALMS OF DAVID

TRANSLATIONS IN ENGLISH

1530 2010

Paul AS Harvey

Penname: Stean Anthony

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Paul AS Harvey (Stean Anthony): Lectures on the Psalms in English versions 1535-2010. [Revised Lecture May 2017]

Psalm Thirty Text and Notes.

Versions of Psalms

Miles Coverdale 1535

King James 1611

Philip Sidney c 1580

Sternhold and Hopkins 1562

Tate and Brady 1696

George Sandys 1636 -

Scottish Psalter 1650

Charles Wesley c 1730

Isaac Watts c 1710

Spurgeon ed. Our Own Hymn Book 1866 Spirit of the Psalms -

Psalter United Presbyterian Ch. of N. America 1887 -

Christopher Webber 1986

Psalms for All Seasons 2012

Modern Translation of the Psalm NRSV EP

Louis Segond (French) LSG

Joo Ferreira de Almeida (Portuguese) JFA -

LXX Septuaginta

Vulgata

Japanese

Hebrew

Miles Coverdale 1535 Psalm Thirty 1662 BCP:

(copy used from a PDF file modern-spelling edition of Psalms, the Coverdale translation edited by W. S. Peterson and Valerie Macys.)

Exaltabo te, Domine

1 I will magnify thee, O Lord; for thou hast set me up, and not made my foes to triumph over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell; thou hast kept my life from them that go down to the pit.

4 Sing praises unto the Lord, O ye saints of his; and give thanks unto him, for a remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and in his pleasure is life; heaviness may endure for a night, but joy

cometh in the morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be removed; thou, Lord, of thy goodness, hast made my hill so strong.

7 Thou didst turn thy face from me, and I was troubled.

8 Then cried I unto thee, O Lord, and gat me to my Lord right humbly.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down into the pit?

10 Shall the dust give thanks unto thee? Or shall it declare thy truth?

11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me. Lord, be thou my helper.

12 Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.

13 Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without ceasing. O my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

King James 1611 Psalm Thirty:

1 Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made

my foes to rejoice over me.

2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the

morning.

6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

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11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for

ever.

Sternhold and Hopkins H&S 1562 Psalm Thirty:

1 All laud and praise with heart and voice, O Lord, I give to thee,

Who didst not make my foes rejoice, but hast exalted me.

2 O Lord, My God, to thee I cried in all my pain and grief,

Thou gavst an ear, and didst provide to ease me with relief.

3 Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul from hell and thou the same didst save

From them that in the pit do dwell, and keptst me from the grave.

4 Sing praise, ye saints, that prove and see the goodness of the Lord.

In honour of his Majesty rejoice with one accord.

5 For why? His anger but a space doth last, ceasing again.

But in his favour and his grace always doth life remain.

6 Though heaviness and pangs full sore abide with us all night,

The Lord to joy shall us restore before the day be light.

7 When I enjoyed the world at will, thus would I boast and say,

Tush, I am sure to feel no ill, my wealth shall not decay.

8 For thou, O Lord, of thy good grace, didst send me strength and aid,

But when thou turndst away thy face, my mind was sore dismayd.

9 Wherefore again then did I cry to thee, O Lord of might,

And my complaints did multiply, praying both day and night.

10 What gain is in my blood, said I, if death destroy my days?

Can dust declare thy Majesty, or give truth its praise?

11 Wherefore, my God, some pity take, O Lord, I thee desire.

Do not, O Lord, my soul forsake, of thee I help require.

12 Then thou didst turn my grief and woe into a cheerful voice,

My sackcloth didst take off also, and madest me to rejoice.

13 Wherefore my soul incessantly shall sing unto thy praise,

O Lord my God, to thee will I give laud and thanks always.

Tate and Brady T&B 1696 Psalm Thirty:

1 Ill celebrate thy praises, Lord,

Who didst thy power employ

To raise my drooping head, and check

My foes insulting joy.

2, 3 In my distress I cried to thee,

Who kindly didst relieve,

And from the graves expecting jaws

My hopeless life retrieve.

4 Thus to his courts, ye saints of his,

With songs of praise repair;

With me commemorate his truth,

And providential care.

5 His wrath has but a moments reign,

His favour no decay;

Your night of grief is recompensed

With joys returning day.

6 But I in prosperous days presumed

No sudden change I feared

Whilst in my sunshine of success

No lowering cloud appeared.

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7 But soon I found thy favour, Lord,

My empires only trust;

For when thou hidst thy face, I saw

My honour laid in dust.

8 Then, as I vainly had presumed,

My error I confessed;

And thus, with supplicating voice,

Thy mercys throne addressed.

9 What profit is there in my blood,

Congealed by deaths cold night?

Can silent ashes speak thy praise,

Thy wondrous truth recite?

10 Hear me, O Lord; in mercy, hear:

Thy wonted aid extend;

Do thou send help, on whom alone

I can for help depend.

11 Tis done! Thou hast my mournful scene

To songs and dances turned;

Invested me with robes of state,

Who late in sackcloth mourned.

12 Exalted thus, Ill gladly sing

Thy praise in grateful verse;

And, as thy favours endless are,

Thy endless praise rehearse.

Philip Sidney Psalm Thirty c. 1580:

O Lord, thou hast exalted me

And saved me from foes laughing scorn;

I owe thee praise, and I will praise thee.

For when my heart with woes was torn,

In cries to thee, I showed my cause:

And was from ill, by thee upborne.

Yea, from the graves most hungry jaws

Thou wouldst not set me on their score,

Whom Death to his cold bosom draws.

Praise, praise this Lord then evermore,

Ye saints of his, remembering still

With thanks his holiness therefore.

For quickly ends his wrathful will

But his dear favour where it lies

From age to age life joys doth fill.

Well may the evening clothe the eyes

In clouds of tears, but soon as sun

Doth rise again, new joys shall rise.

For proof, while I my race did run

Full of success, fond I did say.

That I should never be undone.

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For then my hill good God did stay:

But, ah, he straight his face did hide,

And what was I but wretched clay?

Then thus to thee I praying cried,

What serves, alas, the blood of me

When I within the pit do bide?

Shall ever earth give thanks to thee?

Or shall thy truth on mankind laid

In deadly dust declard be?

Lord, hear, let mercy thine be stayed

On me, from me help this annoy.

This much I said, this being said,

Lo, I that wailed, now dance for joy;

Thou didst ungird my doleful sack,

And madest me gladsome weeds enjoy.

Therefore my tongue shall never lack

Thy endless praise: O God, my king,

I will thee thanks for ever sing.

Isaac Watts 604 Psalm 30:

1st part. LM German Hymn, Bath

Sickness healed and sorrow removed.

1 I will extol thee, Lord, on high;

At thy command diseases fly;

Who but a God can speak and save

From the dark borders of the grave?

2 Sing to the Lord, ye saints of his,

And tell how large his goodness is;

Let all your powers rejoice and bless,

While you record his holiness.

3 His anger but a moment stays;

His love is life and length of days;

Though grief and tears the night employ,

The morning star restores the joy.

Isaac Watts 603 Psalm 30:

2nd part LM Portugal, Armley

Health, sickness and recovery.

1 Firm was my health, my day was bright,

And I presumed twould neer be night;

Fondly I said within my heart,

Pleasure and peace shall neer depart.

2 But I forgot thine arm was strong,

Which made my mountain stand so long;

Soon as thy face began to hide,

My health was gone, my comforts died.

3 I cried aloud to thee, my God;

What canst thou profit by my blood?

Deep in the dust, can I declare

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Thy truth, or sing thy goodness there?

4 Hear me, O God of grace, I said,

And bring me from among the dead.

Thy word rebuked the pains I felt,

Thy pardoning love removed my guilt.

5 My groans, and tears, and forms of woe,

Are turned to joy, and praises now;

I throw my sackcloth on the ground,

And ease and gladness gird me round.

6 My tongue, the glory of my frame,

Shall neer be silent of thy name;

Thy praise shall sound through earth and heaven,

For sickness healed, and sins forgiven.

Charles Wesley Psalm 30:

1 Lord, I will exalt thy grace,

Grace which hath exalted me;

Me thou hast vouchsafed to raise,

Sunk in sin and misery.

But thine own thou wouldst not leave

Would not let my foes prevail,

Me thou dost the victory give,

Victory over earth and hell.

2 Sick of sin, to thee I cried,

Thee, my Loving Lord and God!

Scottish Psalter Psalm Thirty (1650 revised 1880):

1 Lord, I will thee extol, for thou

Hast lifted me on high,

And over me thou to rejoice

Madest not mine enemy.

2 O thou who art the Lord my God

I in distress to thee

With loud cries lifted up my voice,

And thou hast healed me.

3 O Lord, my soul thou has brought up

And rescued from the grave;

And I to death should not go down

Alive thou didst me save.

4 O ye that are his holy ones

Sing praise unto the Lord:

And unto him give thanks, when ye

His holiness record.

5 For but a moment lasts his wrath;

Life in his favour lies;

Weeping may for a night endure,

At morn doth joy arise.

6 In my prosperity I said

That nothing shall me move;

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7 O Lord thou hast my mountain made

To stand strong by thy love.

Thou didst thy face hide; then was I

Sore troubled and dismayed;

8 I cried to thee, O Lord, to thee

I supplication made:

9 What profit is there in my blood,

When I to death go down?

Shall dust give praises unto thee?

Shall it thy truth make known?

10 Hear, Lord, have mercy; help me, Lord;

11 Thou didst from sackcloth free;

My grief to dancing thou hast turned,

With gladness girded me,

12 That sing thy praise my glory may,

And never silent be.

O Lord my God, for evermore

I will give thanks to thee.

Psalms for All Seasons (Faith Alive, 2012). Psalm 30 (30A James Seddon 1973):

1 I worship you O Lord

For you have raised me up

I cried to you for help,

And you restored my life.

You brought be back from death

And saved me from the grave.

2 Sing praises to the Lord

All those who know his name

For while his wrath is brief

His favor knows no end

Though tears flow for a night

The morning brings new joy.

3 I said, I am so strong

I never shall be moved

But you Lord, shook my life

My heart was in distress.

I cried out for your help

And pleaded for your grace.

4 What good am I when dead

While lying in the grave?

Can dust proclaim your praise?

O hear me, gracious Lord,

In mercy be my aid.

5 My mourning you have turned

To dancing and to joy;

My sadness you dispelled

As gladness filled my soul.

And so Ill sing your praise,

My God, through all my days.

Psalms for All Seasons (Faith Alive, 2012). Psalm 30 (30C Michael Morgan 2011):

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Refrain:

All with joyful exultation let us sing to God our praise

To the Rock of our salvation loud hosannas raise.

1 Lord, we sing with joyful voices

Your great power can lift and save

By your healing touch, revive us,

Life restore beyond the grave.

2 Praise to you, our sure salvation

You, the Holy One above

End the night so dimmed by anguish

With your light of peace and love.

3 Change our sorrow to rejoicing

Clothe with gladness all despair

Cause unsteady feet that stumble

Now to dance beneath your care.

4 Dry our tears we shed in mourning

Give us steadfast hope always

Fill our hearts with expectation

Fill our songs with thanks and praise.

[clumsy v. 3 cause wrong nuance on line & word care badly chosen]

Christopher L. Webber, A New Metrical Psalter (Church Hymnal Corp., 1986) Psalm 30:

1 I will exalt you, Lord

For you have lifted me

And have not let my foes rejoice

Or gain the victory.

2 Lord God, I cried to you

And you have made me whole;

You brought me up, O Lord, from death,

And you restored my soul.

3 You servants of the Lord,

Come now and let us sing:

Remembering his holiness

Give thanks to God our King.

4 His wrath is quickly past

Loves day is never done;

Though weeping may spend all the night,

Joy rises with the sun.

5 While I felt safe I said

No one shall trouble me

You made me stronger than the hills

Lord, when you favored me.

6. But then you hid your face

And I was filled with fear;

I pleaded with the Lord and cried

To you, O Lord, to hear.

7 What profit will there be

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If I go to the grave?

Will dust praise you, Lord, or declare

Your faithfulness to save?

8 Have mercy on me, Lord;

Hear me, save me from strife;

You let me dance instead of mourn

And clothed with joy my life.

9 Therefore my heart will sing

Unceasingly to you;

O Lord my God, all thanks and praise

To you is ever due.

[clumsy v. 8 you let me wrong nuance because too weak]

Episcopal Psalms (EP) Psalm Thirty:

Exaltabo te, Domine

1 I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up *

and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *

and you restored me to health.

3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *

you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.

4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *

give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *

his favor for a lifetime.

6 Weeping may spend the night, *

but joy comes in the morning.

7 While I felt secure, I said, I shall never be disturbed. *

You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.

8 Then you hid your face, *

and I was filled with fear.

9 I cried to you, O Lord; *

I pleaded with the Lord, saying,

10 What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *

will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?

11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *

O Lord, be my helper.

12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *

you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.

13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Psalm Thirty:

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

3 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.

5 For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the

morning.

6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."

7 By your favor, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

8 To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication:

9 "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10 Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!"

11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

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12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

1 Notes: words and phrases & general interpretation & meaning

General Notes

TNIV: A song of praise publicly celebrating the Lords deliverance of David from the threat of death, probably brought

on by illness. A psalm chanted at Hanukkah, the feast that celebrates the rededication of the temple under Judas

Maccabeus after the desecration in 168 BC, the rejoicing and resurrection message in this psalm is an indication of how

important that episode was for the Jews. The I of the psalm becomes the collective persona of Israel. Vivid imagery

that associates distress with depths common to Hebrew poetry and also a universal theme & a cluster of related

associations: darkness, destruction, decay, dust, mire, slime, mud, grave etc figures in apposition to heaven.

NAB: An individual thanksgiving in four parts: praise and thanks for deliverance and restoration; an invitation to others

to join in; a flashback to the time before deliverance; a return to praise and thanks. Two sets of images or movements:

downwards, death, silence & upwards, life, praise [basic pattern]. A resurrection psalm. Brought out of Sheol = grave =

serious illness. [The psalm does indeed divide quite well and this is true of many of the psalms, the last two verses make

a good song for dancing]

Barnes: For thou hast lifted me up - To wit, from the state of danger in which I was. The Hebrew word used here means

properly to draw out, as from a well; and then, to deliver, to set free. As God had thus lifted him up, it was proper that he

should show his gratitude by "lifting up" or extolling the name of God. The argument of Ps. 30.9 What profit is there in

my blood, if I go down to the Pit? is presented also in Ps 6.5, and is found again in Ps 88.10-12, and in the hymn of

Hezekiah, Is 38.18-19. Meaning is that we must praise God while we are still alive & and that being alive is the same as

being constant in praise of God.

Keil and Delitzsch: When He manifests Himself to His own, love prevails; and wrath is, in relation to them, only a

vanishing moment: a moment passes in His anger, a whole life in His favour, i.e., the former endures only for a moment,

the latter the whole life of a man. Alles Ding whrt seine Zeit, Gottes Lieb' in Ewigkeit. All things last their season,

God's love to all eternity.

The Treasury of David, Charles Haddon Spurgeon [1869-85]: They are all to sing in heaven, and therefore they should all

sing on earth. Let us sing with the poet: "I would begin the music here, | And so my soul should rise: | Oh for some

heavenly notes to bear | My passions to the skies." [This quote appears to be from a hymn by Isaac Watts Earth has

engrossed my love too long.]

Craigie: no especial notes from this.

Alter: v. 1 lifted me up or for you drew me up the Hebrew word daloh (S1802) is one used for drawing water out of the

well i.e. drawn up from a deep place.

Mays: no especial notes from this.

Notes on words:

Heaviness: sadness

Supplication: petition or entreaty, humble prayer

Pang: spasm of pain

Tush: exclamation of impatience or contempt

Score: record kept a tally of, or a reckoning

Sheol & Pit Heb. l Note by William B. Nelson, Jr. from BibleStudy Tools website:

Old Testament. "Sheol" refers to the grave or the abode of the dead ( Psalms 88:3 Psalms 88:5 ). Through much of the

Old Testament period, it was believed that all went one place, whether human or animal ( Psalms 49:12 Psalms

49:14 Psalms 49:20 ), whether righteous or wicked ( Eccl 9:2-3 ). No one could avoid Sheol ( Psalm 49:9; 89:48 ), which

was thought to be down in the lowest parts of the earth ( Deut 32:22 ; 1 Sam 28:11-15 ; Job 26:5 ; Psalm 86:13 ; Isa

7:11 ; Ezekiel 31:14-16 Ezekiel 31:18 ).

Unlike this world, Sheol is devoid of love, hate, envy, work, thought, knowledge, and wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:6;

Ecclesiastes 9:10). Descriptions are bleak: There is no light (Job 10:21-22 ; 17:13 ; Psalms 88:6 Psalms 88:12 ; 143:3), no

remembrance (Psalm 6:5 ; 88:12 ; Eccl 9:5 ), no praise of God ( Psalm 6:5 ; 30:9 ; 88:10-12 ; 115:17 ; Isa 38:18 ) in fact, no

sound at all ( Psalm 94:17 ; 115:17 ). Its inhabitants are weak, trembling shades ( Job 26:5 ; Psalm 88:10-12 ; Isa 14:9-10 )

who can never hope to escape from its gates ( Job 10:21 ; 17:13-16 ; Isa 38:10 ). Sheol is like a ravenous beast that swallows

the living without being sated ( Prov 1:12 ; 27:20 ; Isa 5:14 ). Some thought the dead were cut off from God ( Psalm

88:3-5 ; Isa 38:11 ); while others believed that God's presence reached even to Sheol ( Psalm 139:8 ). [evolution in the

understanding of the concept?? Differing opinions about the concept??]

Toward the end of the Old Testament, God revealed that there will be a resurrection of the dead ( Isa 26:19 ). Sheol will

devour no longer; instead God will swallow up Death ( Isa 25:8 ). The faithful will be rewarded with everlasting life while

the rest will experience eternal contempt ( Dan 12:2 ). This theology developed further in the intertestamental period.

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The New Testament. By the time of Jesus, it was common for Jews to believe that the righteous dead go to a place of

comfort while the wicked go to Hades ("Hades" [from Greek] normally translates "Sheol" in the LXX), a place of

torment ( Luke 16:22-23 ). Similarly, in Christianity, believers who die go immediately to be with the Lord ( 2 Cor

5:8 ; Php 1:23 ). Hades is a hostile place whose gates cannot prevail against the church ( Matt 16:18 ). In fact, Jesus

himself holds the keys of Death and Hades ( Rev 1:18). Death and Hades will ultimately relinquish their dead and be

cast into the lake of fire ( Rev 20:13-14).

The fact that theology develops within the Old Testament and between the Old Testament and the New Testament does

not mean that the Bible is contradictory or contains errors. It only indicates progressive revelation, that God revealed

more of himself and his plan of salvation as time went on. That some Old Testament saints believed in Sheol, while the

New Testament teaches clearly about heaven and hell, is nor more of a problem than that the Old Testament contains a

system of atonement by animal sacrifice now made obsolete in Christ ( Heb 10:4-10) or that the Old Testament teaches

God is one ( Deut 6:4) while the New Testament reveals a Trinity.

Hastings has the useful statement: Though the ancient Israelites had no doctrine of a future life, they did not think of

death as extinction. Like the Semites generally, they believed that the dead passed into Sheol, where they continued to

pursue a conscious but pale and inactive existence. It was a place of horror because without hope or communion

with God. [Hastings Dictionary of the Bible]. [Death = corruption & eternal uncleanness. Life after death = unity with

God.]

The Biblical teaching on Sheol is contradictory and complex, and there is change in the thinking over time, including

the vital notion of the resurrection from the dead, mentioned in Acts (Saint Paul) and of central importance to the

development of the Christian Faith.

There are similar concepts in the neighboring civilizations. Most of the ideas covered by the Hebrew "Sheol" are

expressed also in the Assyro-Babylonian descriptions of the state of the dead, found in the myths concerning Ishtar's

descent into Hades, concerning Nergal and Ereshkigal and in the Gilgamesh epic. [Note from Emil G. Hirsh Jewish

Encyclopedia website].

Is the concept an independent development or did it evolve from borrowings from other faiths? This is the most

important question, and the answer must be both. The Hebrews received an improved revelation of truth which

developed over time, and which assumed information from other sources. This is a very important principle to accept,

since it enables us to understand something very important about the pagan faiths. They also provided useful

information!

More clarification about this topic needed. What exactly was the nature of Sheol in terms of spiritual consciousness?

Was the soul extinguished after death in Sheol or was it conscious of being separated from God? Is it a grave or a

separate realm? How does this relate to the notion of Hell? How accurate are words used in translation, such as Hades?

How does this relate to the word Gehenna?

Sacks & Sackcloth

From shaqaq; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. Coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in

mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain, etc.). The word sac is found in all European languages.

OE. sacc masc., ad. L. sacc-us bag, sack, sackcloth (F. sac, from 1112th c., Pr. sac, Sp., Pg. saco, It. sacco), a. Gr.

, [sakkos] ad. Heb. (?Phnician) saq = Jewish Aramaic saq, saqq, Syriac saq, saq, Assyrian saqqu. The word

appears in most of the Teut. Langs. Goth. sakkus sackcloth is prob. from Greek, but in the other langs. the proximate

source is Latin: MDu. sak (Du. zak), OHG. sac, sach, acc. pl. secchi (MHG. sac, mod.G. sack bag), ON. sekk-r sack

(Sw. skk, Da. sk).

Hebrew & Latin & Greek & Aramaic the same word = sac. It is a Hebrew word. Why the same word? Obviously it was a

unit of trade, universally encountered, from early days to a limited extent before the Romans between peoples, and under

the Romans, with their excellent military organization, throughout Europe. These would have been sacks of grain kept

dry and transported on carts. The production of sacks & the material had remained more or less the same for 1000 years?

Egypt was the granary for Rome, and presumably good quality sacks were used to transport the grain, so there would

have been a large scale production of sacks in Egypt during the Roman Empire. The hieroglyphics on the walls of

ancient Egypt show that grain production and storage was very ancient. The Hebrew use of the empty sack (as harsh

clothing) to symbolize grief is connected to the idea of famine.

[Hessian (burlap & gunny) made from the jute plant was used to make sacks (19th c. development in India)].

In ancient times, what was used? Woven black goats hair? Camels hair? Would there have been enough? If

well-made it would last a long time and be re-useable. Need more information.

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It appears that the sakki was in fact a simple loincloth. This would have been worn in Egypt. Examples in the

hieroglyphics. According to Rev. the color was black. See: Revelation 6:12; Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 20:32;

Matthew 11:21; Matthew 11:21; Isaiah 20:2; Zechariah 13:4. Is 20.2 the LORD had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz,

saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet, and he had done so, walking

naked and barefoot. Perhaps the phrase put on sackcloth could have been a euphemism for go about naked??

Putting on sackcloth was a token of humiliation can be seen in (1 Kings 21:27-29) E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). See also

Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable

day to Jehovah? Is not this the fast that I choose, to open the bonds of wickedness, to break bread to the hungry? (Isa.

58:5-7).

Let us learn a couple of Hebrew words for each psalm.

12 You have turned my wailing (mourning) into dancing; you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.

Hafachta mispedi lemachol li pittachta sakki vatte'azzereni simchah (transliteration used below in song)

hpat misp lml l; pitta taqq; wattazzrn imh. (transliteration on Biblehub.com)

Hafachta have turned hafak (overthrow, turn into, change)

Mispedi mourning misped mourning lamentation Is 22.12

lemachol [into] dancing machol dancing Ps 149.3 Ps 150.4 Jer 31.4 & 13 (see below for this passage)

li to

Pittachta have loosed pathach ungird loins, loosen sackcloth, open gates, doors, lips, speech, saying, rivers, windows

sakki sackcloth sack sackcloth

vatte'azzereni have girded azar gird gird loins, gird with strength

simchah gladness simchah joy, gladness, mirth imh great rejoicing Nehemiah 8.12 & 17

2 Notes: literary comparison & evaluation. Which of these versions communicates the Psalmists feelings?

Coverdale: verse 5 is nicely stated, the phrases balance well and the sentiment is a good poem in its own right. Perhaps

the best this time? Or maybe NRSV?

King James: grave preferred over hell used in Coverdale. Verse 5 is better in Coverdale. Verse 11 reads very well in KJV good rhythm and musicality also a good poem-prayer. There are interesting questions about the KJV trans of Sheol

in 1611 and later in the RV & AV. How to translate? Grave? Hell? Hades? Sheol?

S&H: not especially notable in this version.

T&B: less accomplished than usual, clumsy in epithet and inelegant

Sidney: terza rima used (Dantes rhyme), rhyme-choice ruining the phrasing of the poem, not good

Watts: 604 nicely phrased and v. 3 rather good; 603 modern in phrase, good interpretation of glory (= tongue), this is

rather a good hymn

Wesley: brief excerpt, not especially notable

Scottish Psalter: weaker than usual it gets stronger but not especially good, i.e. from sackcloth free weak ineffective way of stating this free the wrong word for this here

Episcopal: v 3 ill phrased; glory translated as heart which is good in general this works quite well.

NRSV: v5 weeping may linger an ambitious phrase, quite good. In general this is restrained but powerful, good Psalm 30 Japanese

30:1

30:2

30:3

30:4

13

30:5

30:6

30:7

30:8

30:9

30:10

30:11

30:12

amen

References & Websites

Peter Craigie & Marvin Tate Psalms 1-50 Word Biblical Comm.

Robert Alter The Book of Psalms Translation with Comment.

James L. Mays Psalms Interpretation Commentary

http://psalms.schechter.edu/Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal

http://biblehub.com/Various commentaries found here

http://www.missionstclare.com/english/psalm/psalters.html Anglican Psalters included 1662 BCP also Liturgical Psalter 1977

http://www.cgmusic.org/workshop/allpsalm.htm Music for the Church of God Various Psalters S&H T&B texts in English USEFUL

http://ba.21.free.fr/septuaginta/psaumes/psaumes_1.html Septuagint Psalms

http://www.latinvulgate.com/ parallel English Vulgata Latin ed (Vulgate Douay-Rheims) http://psautierdegeneve.blogspot.jp/2012/09/psaume-42.html Geneva Psalms French 1587 & 1729

http://www.clementmarot.com/psalms_texts.htm Psalm poems of Clement Marot 1543

http://www.genevanpsalter.com/ Metrical French (Marot) influential melodies (Bourgeois) transl. into Eng and still in use

http://www.covenantofgrace.com/index.htm Scottish Presbyterian Psalter

http://www.medievalist.net/hourstxt/home.htm Book of Hours many Latin Psalms

http://soundcloud.com/john-ross10 Scottish Versions good!

http://www.psalm-singing.org/ Scottish Metrical Psalms sung good!

On YouTube there are beautiful settings of Genevan Psalm melodiesGeneefs psalter

http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm103.htm useful list of articles etc

http://www.chabad.org/ some interesting notes from the Jewish point of view

For English Translations of psalms from the earlier period consult: William J. Chamberlin, Catalogue of English Bible Translations: a Classified Bibliography of Versions and Editions (Greenwood Publishing Group,

1991) 900 pages. Can be seen on Google Books.

Louis Segond (1810-1885). Swiss translator, widely admired by all churches.

First published 1871-80. Revised version 1910 (available on internet).

New revision completed in 1979 in Geneva.

http://psalms.schechter.edu/http://www.missionstclare.com/english/psalm/psalters.htmlhttp://www.cgmusic.org/workshop/allpsalm.htmhttp://ba.21.free.fr/septuaginta/psaumes/psaumes_1.htmlhttp://www.latinvulgate.com/http://psautierdegeneve.blogspot.jp/2012/09/psaume-42.htmlhttp://www.clementmarot.com/psalms_texts.htmhttp://www.genevanpsalter.com/http://www.covenantofgrace.com/index.htmhttp://www.medievalist.net/hourstxt/home.htmhttp://soundcloud.com/john-ross10http://www.psalm-singing.org/http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm103.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/

14

Louis Segond (LSG) Psaume 30

30 (30:1) Psaume. Cantique pour la ddicace de la maison. De David.

1 (30:2) Je t'exalte, ternel, car tu m'as relev, Tu n'as pas voulu que mes ennemis se rjouissent mon sujet.

2 (30:3) ternel, mon Dieu! J'ai cri toi, et tu m'as guri.

3 (30:4) ternel! tu as fait remonter mon me du sjour des morts, Tu m'as fait revivre loin de ceux qui descendent dans

la fosse.

4 (30:5) Chantez l'ternel, vous qui l'aimez, Clbrez par vos louanges sa saintet!

5 (30:6) Car sa colre dure un instant, Mais sa grce toute la vie; Le soir arrivent les pleurs, Et le matin l'allgresse.

6 (30:7) Je disais dans ma scurit: Je ne chancellerai jamais!

7 (30:8) ternel! par ta grce tu avais affermi ma montagne... Tu cachas ta face, et je fus troubl.

8 (30:9) ternel! j'ai cri toi, J'ai implor l'ternel:

9 (30:10) Que gagnes-tu verser mon sang, A me faire descendre dans la fosse? La poussire a-t-elle pour toi des

louanges? Raconte-t-elle ta fidlit?

10 (30:11) coute, ternel, aie piti de moi! ternel, secours-moi! -

11 (30:12) Et tu as chang mes lamentations en allgresse, Tu as dli mon sac, et tu m'as ceint de joie,

12 (30:13) Afin que mon coeur te chante et ne soit pas muet. ternel, mon Dieu! je te louerai toujours.

15

Septuagint LXX Psalm 30 (LXX 29)

1

.

Jusqu' la Fin, psaume et cantique de David l'occasion de la

ddicace de la maison.

2 , ,

.

Je t'exalterai, Seigneur ; car tu m'as relev, tu n'as point fait de

moi la joie de mes ennemis.

3 , , Seigneur mon Dieu, j'ai cri vers toi, et tu m'as guri.

4 , ,

.

Seigneur, tu as ramen mon me de l'enfer ; tu m'as sauv

d'entre ceux qui descendent dans le spulcre.

5 , ,

Chantez le Seigneur, vous ses saints ; rendez-lui grces au

souvenir de sa saintet.

6 ,

.

Car la colre nat de son indignation, mais la vie est en sa

volont ; le soir, il y aura des pleurs, et l'aurore l'allgresse.

7

.

Pour moi, j'ai dit en ma prosprit : Je serai jamais

inbranlable.

8 ,

,

.

Seigneur, ta volont sainte me maintenait en ma force et ma

beaut ; tu as dtourn de moi ton visage, et j'ai t troubl.

9 , ,

Je crierai vers toi, Seigneur ; j'adresserai mes prires mon

Dieu.

10 ,

;

;

De quelle utilit te serait mon sang, si je tombais en

corruption ? Ma cendre te rendrait-elle gloire ? ferait-elle

connatre ta vrit ?

11 ,

.

Le Seigneur m'a entendu, et il a eu piti de moi ; le Seigneur

est devenu mon champion.

12 ,

,

Tu as chang mes lamentations en joie ; tu as dchir mon

cilice ; tu m'as environn d'allgresse ;

13

, .

Afin que ma gloire chante tes louanges, et que la douleur ne

me transperce plus. Seigneur mon Dieu, je te rendrai

ternellement grces.

16

Vulgate Psalm 30 (Vulgate 29)

PSALMUS XXIX.

EUCHARISTICIS.

VERSIO VULGATA.

1. Psalmus cantici, in dedicatione domus David.

2. Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam suscepisti me: nec

delectasti inimicos meos super me.

3. Domine Deus meus, clamavi ad te, et sanasti me.

4. Domine, eduxisti ab inferno animam meam : salvasti me

a descendentibus in lacum.

VERSIO S. HIERONYMI.

Psalmus cantici, ad dedicationem domus David.

Exaltabo te, Domine, quoniam salvasti me: et non dilatasti inimicos meos super me.

Dominus Deus meus, clamavi ad te, et sanasti me.

Domine, eduxisti ex inferno animam meam: vivificasti me,

ne descenderem iii lacum.

5. Psallite Domino, sancti ejus : et confitemini memori

sanctitatis ejus.

6. Quoniam ira in indignatione ejus : et vita in voluntate

ejus.

Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus : et ad matutinum ltitia.

7. Ego autem dixi in abundantia mea : Non movebor in

ternum.

8. Domine, in voluntate tua, prstitisti decori meo

virtutem.

Avertisti faciem tuam a me, et factus sum conturbatus.

9. Ad te, Domine, clamabo: et ad Deum meum deprecabor.

10. Qu utilitas in sanguine meo, dum descendo in

corruptionem ?

Numquid confitebitur tibi pulvis, aut annuntiabit

veritatem tuam ?

11. Audivit Dominus, et misertus est mei: Dominus factus

est adjutor meus.

12. Convertisti planctum meum in gaudium mihi:

conscidisti saccum meum, et circumdedisti me ltitia:

13. Ut cantet tibi gloria mea, et non compungar: Domine

Deus meus, in ternum confitebor tibi.

Cantate Domino, sancti ejus, et confitemini memori sanctitatis ejus.

Quoniam ad momentum est ira ejus, et vita in

repropitiatione ejus.

Ad vesperum commorabitur fletus, et in matutino laus.

Ego autem dixi in abundantia mea: Non movebor in sempiternum.

Domine, in voluntate tua, posuisti monti meo

fortitudinem:

abscondisti faciem tuam a me, et factus sum conturbatus.

Ad Dominum clamabo, et Dominum deprecabor.

Qu est utilitas in sanguine meo, dum descendero,

incorruptionem:

Numquid confitebitur tibi pulvis? aut annuntiabit

veritatem tuam?

Audi, Domine, et miserere mei: Domine, esto adjutor.

Convertisti planctum meum in chorum mihi: solvisti

saccum meum, et accinxisti me ltitia.

Ut laudet te gloria, et non taceat; Domine Deus meus, in

sempiternum confitebor tibi.

17

Joyful Song Hafachta Mispedi Ps 30.11-12 Music by Merla Watson, sung by Elana Watson.

Hebrew words

Hafachta have turned

Mispedi mourning

Hafachta mispedi lemachol li li li li! Mourning into dancing! lemachol [into] dancing

Hafachta mispedi lemachol li li! Pittachta have loosed

sakki sackcloth

pittachta sakki vatte'azzereni simchah Ha! Ha! Ha! loosed sackcloth! vatte'azzereni have girded

pittachta sakki vatte'azzereni simchah girded gladness! simchah gladness

lemaan because of

lemaan yezammercha chavor velo yiddom dom dom yezammercha may sing

Adonai elohai le'olam orecha! Adonai = Lord Elohai = God Chavor that glory = soul?

velo yiddom not be silent

English version (words adapted into a resurrection hymn [Christian nuance]) Leolam forever

You have turned my mourning to joy unbounded li li li! Orecha will give (thanks)

Sackcloth off! Tears have gone! Feet begun to dance! Chavor from kabod lit. glory

Girded me with gladness, and now I m laughing, Ha! Ha! Ha! Splendor copiousness

To the end, my glory [soul] will sing Your highest praise! Chavor life-force?

I will not be silent! Oh no! I want to shout and sing! Psalm is like a song

Resurrection life is a-spilling out from me! About rebirth at the end.

18

This passage from Jeremiah 31.1-14 is relevant to Psalm 30 (NRSV) The Joyful Return of the Exiles

The verb dancing is here.

1 At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

2 Thus says the Lord:

The people who survived the sword

found grace in the wilderness;

when Israel sought for rest,

3 the Lord appeared to him from far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built,

O virgin Israel!

Again you shall take your tambourines,

and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.

5 Again you shall plant vineyards

on the mountains of Samaria;

the planters shall plant,

and shall enjoy the fruit.

6 For there shall be a day when sentinels will call

in the hill country of Ephraim:

Come, let us go up to Zion,

to the Lord our God.

7 For thus says the Lord:

Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,

and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;

proclaim, give praise, and say,

Save, O Lord, your people,

the remnant of Israel.

8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,

and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,

among them the blind and the lame,

those with child and those in labor, together;

a great company, they shall return here.

9 With weeping they shall come,

and with consolations I will lead them back,

I will let them walk by brooks of water,

in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;

for I have become a father to Israel,

and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,

and declare it in the coastlands far away;

say, He who scattered Israel will gather him,

and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.

11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,

and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,

and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,

over the grain, the wine, and the oil,

and over the young of the flock and the herd;

their life shall become like a watered garden,

and they shall never languish again.

13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

and the young men and the old shall be merry.

I will turn their mourning into joy,

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness,

and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,

says the Lord.