Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Psalm 135: The election of Israel (verses 21-27)


Juan de Juanes
In the last post we looked at the psalms witness of God's intervention in history.  The other key theme of  Psalms 113, 134 and 135 is of course the election of Israel, and their special status as the people that God is especially mindful of.   In Psalm 135, this theme is dealt with mostly in verses 21-27.

Comparison of the psalms

Verses 21 and 22 are identical to Psalm 134:12, and you can find notes on them in that context here..

Both Psalms 113 (Monday Vespers) and 134 point specifically to the election of Israel; Psalms 113 and 135 talk about God's 'mindfulness' of his people, as the table below sets out.

 The election of Israel in Psalms 113, 134 and 135.

Ps 135
Ps 134
Ps 113
He has chosen Israel

4 Quoniam Jacob elegit sibi Dominus; Israël in possessionem sibi.
2  Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, Israël potéstas ejus.

Given them the Promised Land as an inheritance
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem []

22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo []
12 et dedit terram eorum hæreditatem,

hæreditatem Israël populo suo.

Continues to care for his people











23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

13 Domine, nomen tuum in æternum; Domine, memoriale tuum in generationem et generationem.
14 Quia judicabit Dominus populum suum, et in servis suis deprecabitur.

17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est...






20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.

The verses

23
V/NV/JH
Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

ὅτι ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει ἡμῶν ἐμνήσθη ἡμῶν ὁ κύριος ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Quia (for) in humilitáte (in the affliction/lowliness/humiliation) nostra (our) memor (mindful) fuit (he was) nostri (of us)

humilitas, atis, f affliction, humiliation, wretchedness, misery
memor, oris  mindful of, thoughtful of; to remember, call to mind, think of, take thought for, recall, recount, etc.

DR
For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
For the Lord remembered us in our low estate; for his mercy endures for ever:
MD
He remembered us in our lowliness, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV
It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover
who remembered us when we were in trouble (for his mercy endureth for ever),
Knox
Eternal the mercy that remembers us in our affliction,

24
V/NV
Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
JH
Et redemit nos de hostibus nostris : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.



Et (and) redémit (he redeemed) nos (us) ab (from) inimícis (the enemies) nostris (of us)

redimo ere emi emptum  3 to redeem, buy back, ransom, rescue, set free, save
inimicus, i, m., a foe, enemy

DR
And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
and redeemed us from our enemies; for his mercy endures for ever. 
MD
He delivered us from our enemies, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV
and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
Cover
and hath delivered us from our enemies (for his mercy endureth for ever);
Knox
eternal the mercy that rescues us from our enemies,

25
V/NV
Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
JH
Qui dat panem omni carni : quoniam in aeternum misericordia eius.

ὁ διδοὺς τροφὴν πάσῃ σαρκί ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ

Qui (and) dat (he gives) escam (food) omni (to all) carni (flesh)

esca, ae, f food for men or beasts.
caro, carnis, f  flesh as food, the -flesh of beasts; man, mankind;  the body; every living being

DR
Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
Brenton
Who gives food to all flesh; for his mercy endures for ever. 
MD
He giveth food to all flesh, for his mercy endureth forever
RSV
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Cover
who giveth food to all flesh (for his mercy endureth for ever).
Knox
eternal the mercy that gives all living things their food.

Who gives food to all flesh

The final verse of the psalm has been given a number of different interpretations by the Fathers and Theologians.  Some interpret is as a general reference to God's ongoing work of sustaining the world.  Others see it as a reference to the Eucharist, an allusion to manna, because it comes immediately after a reference to God leading his people from the desert.  

Those interpretations are obviously all valid, but I'd like to add another layer to that and suggest that perhaps the verse provides a fitting conclusion to St Benedict's 'redemption triptych in the opening psalms of Vespers from Monday to Wednesday.  In this light we can read the reference to food for all flesh, and the subsequent verses (which repeat the opening of the psalm), as referring to God's offer of his own flesh as food and drink for us in the New Covenant of Christ;  a covenant which is open to all, Jew and Gentile alike.

Vulgate
Douay-Rheims
Alleluja.

1 Confitémini Dómino, quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
2 Praise the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
3 Praise the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
4 Who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endures for ever.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures for ever.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
7 Who made the great lights: for his mercy endures for ever.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
8 The sun to rule the day: for his mercy endures for ever.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night: for his mercy endures for ever.
10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endures for ever.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures for ever.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures for ever.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
13 Who divided the Red Sea into parts: for his mercy endures for ever.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
14 And brought out Israel through the midst thereof: for his mercy endures for ever.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
15 And overthrew Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endures for ever.

16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
16 Who led his people through the desert: for his   mercy endures for ever.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endures for ever.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endures for ever.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endures for ever.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endures for ever.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endures for ever.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endures for ever
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever


And that concludes this set of notes on Psalm 135.  You can find an introduction to the third psalm of Wednesday Vespers, Psalm 136, here.

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