Psalm 64
Psalm 64 | |
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← Psalm 63 Psalm 65 → | |
Book | Book of Psalms |
Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
Category | Sifrei Emet |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 64 is the 64th psalm from the Book of Psalms according to the Masoretic numbering. It corresponds to Psalm 63 in the Septuagint (LXX) and Vulgate numbering. It is directed against the "wicked" (רעע) and "workers of iniquity" (פֹּעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן), whom God shall shoot with an arrow (וַיֹּרֵם אֱלֹהִים חֵץ). The psalm may be treated as a prayer for deliverance from enemies, or as a thanksgiving, or a testimony to divine judgement.[1] The psalm is divided into either 10 or 11 verses (depending on whether the introductory לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמֹור לְדָוִֽד "To the chief Musician [נצח], A Psalm of David" is counted as a separate verse).
Content
Verses 6–7 (Vulgate: Psalm 63:7-8) have been the subject of confusion in early Bible translations: the King James Version translates the Hebrew as:
- "They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded."
But in the Vulgate, Jerome, based on the Septuagint text, rendered this as
- Scrutati sunt iniquitates; defecerunt scrutantes scrutinio. Accedet homo ad cor altum, et exaltabitur Deus. Sagittæ parvulorum factæ sunt plagæ eorum,
which translates to "They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall accede to a lofty heart: And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds."
The adjective altum in Latin has both the meanings "high" and "deep", and it is here used to translate LXX βαθεῖα "deep",[2] but it offered itself to an interpretation of an "exalted heart". The "arrows of children" (Sagittæ parvulum) render LXX βέλος νηπίων, which has no correspondence in the Hebrew text as it has come down to us.[who?]
Jerome's translation gave rise to mystical interpretations involving the Sacred Heart in early modern Christian tradition. For example, Serafino Porrecta, in his Commentaria in Psalterium Davidicum, interprets this in terms of Christ himself being the Man who can "accede to that exalted heart", Hic [Christus] solus accessit ad illum cor altum.[3]
The arrow of God leads to a turning to God. In verse 4 the wicked shoot arrows secretly at the righteous. In verse 7, God shoots an arrow (arrows, plural, in some translations) at the wicked, but for some these will be saving arrows, as in verse 9: men will "proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done".[4]
Uses
Catholic Church
This psalm was chosen by St. Benedict of Nursia around 530, for the solemn office at the lauds of Wednesday. In the Rule of St. Benedict, it was recited or sung after Psalm 51 (50) and followed by Psalm 65 (64) (chapter XIII). A number of abbeys still retain this tradition dating from the 6th century.[5][6]
In the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 64 is recited or sung at the midday office on the Saturday of the second week of a four-weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.
Book of Common Prayer
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the 12th day of the month.[7]
References
- ^ Rodd, C. S., 18. Psalms in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary, p. 384
- ^ βαθύς. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
- ^ Serafino Porrecta (Serafino Capponi), Volume 3, 1738, Commentaria in Psalterium Davidicum, p. 95
- ^ Psalm 64:9: New International Version
- ^ Traduction par Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 41.
- ^ Psaultier latin-français du bréviaire monastique,, 1938/2003, p. 267.
- ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
External links
- Psalm 64 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
- Psalm 64 King James Bible - Wikisource
- Blue Letter Bible (Hebrew, LXX and various English translations)
- LXX, Vulgate and Knox Translations (newadvent.org)