So this post requires a bit of explanation. This post is essentially a response to this post. Matthew over at Crypto-Theology suggested that I post some of my Greek reflection and prayer. I was reluctant at first, but I decided that it was a good idea (thanks for the suggestion Matthew!). I was reluctant for a few reasons. First, I’m still a Greek newbie! I misunderstand lots of things and frankly I didn’t want to embarrass my self ;-). Second, reflecting on the psalms is, by nature, an extremely personal endeavor. I’m often hesitant to “get personal” here because that’s not “academic.” However, I think we’re often too quick to divorce the devotional and the academic (at least I am!). I think it’s imperative we hold the two together if theology would serve the Church. So, these “Greek Psalms” posts will hopefully work to keep those two together, at least for me. It will also serve to humble, because I’ll make lots of mistakes and because my Greek composition skills would be matched by a young child! I won’t post a translation yet since a primary purpose of it is to “grow in Greek.” If I decide to keep this up, I’ll likely split them off into a separate blog so as not to bug those who don’t read Greek.
A few more notes: I’m copying the psalm from Accordance, to the accents there should be fine. The accents in my reflection and prayer, however, will be sporadic. I’ve tried to add them in the most helpful places, like εἶ, ὁ, or ῳ but I’ve left out a lot of the others. Some if this is because it takes way to much time to type, and some of it is that I simply don’t know most of them ;-). If sporadic accents are worse than no accents, then I’ll switch to the latter ;-). Also, I’m using the Greek numbering system, which is slightly different than the one our English bibles use. A good explanation can be found here (a great link!). Basically, this is the 12th Greek Psalm, but it’s the 11th Hebrew (and thus English) Psalm.
Comments are appreciated, as is constructive criticism (ie, Greek mistakes!). However, please be gentle :-).
And now, we can begin! Thankfully this psalm was short and relatively simple, and good one to start with.
ὁ ψαλμος:
Psa. 12:1 Εἰς τὸ τέλος· ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ.
Psa. 12:2 Ἕως πότε, κύριε, ἐπιλήσῃ μου εἰς τέλος;
ἕως πότε ἀποστρέψεις τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ;
Psa. 12:3 ἕως τίνος θήσομαι βουλὰς ἐν ψυχῇ μου,
ὀδύνας ἐν καρδίᾳ μου ἡμέρας;
ἕως πότε ὑψωθήσεται ὁ ἐχθρός μου ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ;
Psa. 12:4 ἐπίβλεψον, εἰσάκουσόν μου, κύριε ὁ θεός μου·
φώτισον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, μήποτε ὑπνώσω εἰς θάνατον,
Psa. 12:5 μήποτε εἴπῃ ὁ ἐχθρός μου Ἴσχυσα πρὸς αὐτόν·
οἱ θλίβοντές με ἀγαλλιάσονται, ἐὰν σαλευθῶ.
Psa. 12:6 ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου ἤλπισα,
ἀγαλλιάσεται ἡ καρδία μου ἐπὶ τῷ σωτηρίῳ σου·
ᾄσω τῷ κυρίῳ τῷ εὐεργετήσαντί με
καὶ ψαλῶ τῷ ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου.
τουτος ψαλμος εστιν βοη ανθροπου ἐν θλιψῳ. Κραζει, “Εως ποτε, κυριε.” Βλεπει τους εχθρους αυτου και κραζει τῳ κυριῳ. Ὁ κυριος εστιν ὑψιστος, υψοθεται δε ὁ εχθρος επ ὑμνογραφον. Βλεπει θανατον και ουκι ζωην. Εν δε θλιψῳ αυτος επι τῳ ελεει κυριου ελπιζει. Ενεκα τουτου, ὁ κυριος εσωσα αυτον, κυριος ερυσατο.
αξιος εἶ, κυριε. Ευχαριστω σε, εἶ γαρ μεγας. εσωσας με απο θανατου και ολεθρου. Υψω σε εις αιωνα ὁτι καλος εἶ. Σωζεις ἡμᾶς απο εχθρῶν ἡμων. δει ειναι ἡ χαρις σου, ἡμεις γαρ αξιοι ουκ εσμεν. Κυριε, θελω ανεχεσθαι καλῶς τους θλιψους. Επαγγελεται οτι εστιν θλιψις εν ἠμιν, και θελω φερειν αυτον ὡς Ιησους ενενγκεν τους θλιψους ἡμων. Θελω γνῶναι την δυναμιν Χριστου, και την κοινανιαν του παθηματῶν αυτου. Εν Χριστῳ θελω ειναι. Ελεησον με, ἁμαρτωλον κυριε. Ουκ ειμι ει μη χαρις σου.
Alex Poulos, PhD 