Dr. Norman Prinsky
Humn. 2001 - World Humanities I / Augusta State University
Psalm 23 in Hebrew Script (Read from Left to Right) ; English Transliteration (&
Interlinear Translation) (Read from Left to Right)
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Meez-mor L'Daveed
(Psalm)
(of David)
(1)
YHVH roh-ee lo ekhsar
(Adonai)
(one-being-shepherd-of-me) (nothing) (I-shall-lack)
(2) Bee-noht de-sheh yar-bee-tsay-nee
(in-pastures-of) (greenness) (he-makes-me-lie-down)
Ahl mai meh-noo-khot yeh-nah-kha-lay-nee
(beside)(waters-of) (quiet-ones) (he-leads-me)
(3) nahf-shee yeh-shovayv yah-neh-khah-nee
(soul-of-me) (he-restores)
(he-guides-me)
v'mah-eh-geh-lai tseh-dek leh-mah-ahn sheh-moh
(in-paths-of)
(right, righeousness) (for-sake-of)
(name-of-him)
(4) Gahm kee ay-laykh b'gay tsah-leh-mah-vet lo ee-rah rah
(even)
(though) (I-walk) (in-valley-of)
(deep-darkness) (not) (I will fear)
(evil)
Kee ahtah ee-mah-dee sheev-teh-kha oo-mee-sheh-ahn-teh-kha
(for) (you) (with-me)
(rod-of-you)
(and-staff-of-you)
hay-mah
yeh-nakh-ah-moo-nee
(they)
(they-comfort-me)
(5) Tah-ah-rokh leh-fah-nai shool-khan neh-gehd tsoh-reh-rai
(you-prepare)
(before-me) (table)
(in-presence-of) (ones-being-enemies-of-me)
Dee-shay-neh-tah vah-sheh-men roh-shee koh-see reh-vah-ya
(you-annoint)
(with-the-oil) (head-of-me)
(cup-of-me) (overflow)
(6) Ahkh tohv vah-kheh-sed yeh-rehd-foo-nee kahl yeh-mee khai-yai
(surely) (good)
(and-love)
(they-will-follow-me) (all-of)
(days-of) (lives-of-me)
V'shahv-tee b'vait YHVH leh-oh-rekh
yah-meem
(and-I-will-dwell) (in-house-of)
(Adonai) (for-length-of)
(days)
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Comparable to the project of scholars in interpreting marks on ancient Greek
artifacts as indications of pitch or musical notes, a team of French scholars
has constructed a similar musical scoring from extra marks in the Hebrew text (other than the
dots and dashes above or below the line, which indicate vowels). To hear the
scholarly reconstruction of what Psalm 23 sounds like, accompanied by harp or lyre,
click here.
While Hebrew poetry in general does not use rhyme in the formation of lines of verse or
poetry -- instead using various sorts of parallelism (e.g., synonymous
parallelism, antithetic parallelism, synthetic parallelism, analytical or
climactic parallelism -- from which Walt Whitman took his cue, as a pioneer in
American poetry) -- it is not completely lacking in rhyme (often internal rhyme
-- that is, rhyme within a line of poetry; sometimes end rhyme, rhyme at the end
of a line of poetry). Such rhyme can be found in Psalm 23, above -- e.g.,
yar-bee-tsay-nee and yeh-nah-kha-lay-nee, or sheev-teh-kha
and oo-mee-sheh-ah-neh-teh-kha, or roh-shee and koh-see.
Many English Bible translations use echeloning of lines to indicate a main
element followed by a modifying element that is parallel, contrasting,
developing, etc. Such use may be found in the following examples, drawn from the
book of Psalms (most of them from Psalm 1):
(a) Synonymous parallelism (similarity in the two elements):
But his delight is in the law of the LORD
And in His law he meditates day and night. (1:2)
(b) Antithetical parallelism (contrast or opposition of the two elements):
For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (1:6)
(c) Synthetic parallelism (development of something in the preceding line):
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful. (1:1)
(d) Climactic parallelism (first member is incomplete, and the second member
or next members partially repeat the preceding member, and then complete the
preceding member):
Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Give to the LORD glory and strength. (96:7)
(e) Emblematic parallelism (first line or member contains a figure of
speech, and the following lines explain the figure by expansion or explanation):
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
ANd whatever he does shall prosper. (1:3)