Tag: psalms

Ψαλμος 13

~ Alex Poulos ~ Leave a comment

ὁ ψαλμος
Psa. 13:1 ¶         Εἰς τὸ τέλος· ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυιδ.
        Εἶπεν ἄφρων ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὐκ ἔστιν θεός·
        διέφθειραν καὶ ἐβδελύχθησαν ἐν ἐπιτηδεύμασιν,
        οὐκ ἔστιν ποιῶν χρηστότητα, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός.
Psa. 13:2         κύριος ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ διέκυψεν ἐπὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς τῶν ἀνθρώπων
        τοῦ ἰδεῖν εἰ ἔστιν συνίων ἢ ἐκζητῶν τὸν θεόν.
Psa. 13:3         πάντες ἐξέκλιναν, ἅμα ἠχρεώθησαν,
        οὐκ ἔστιν ποιῶν χρηστότητα, οὐκ ἔστιν ἕως ἑνός.
        τάφος ἀνεῳγμένος ὁ λάρυγξ αὐτῶν,
        ταῖς γλώσσαις αὐτῶν ἐδολιοῦσαν·
        ἰὸς ἀσπίδων ὑπὸ τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν,
        ὧν τὸ στόμα ἀρᾶς καὶ πικρίας γέμει·
        ὀξεῖς οἱ πόδες αὐτῶν ἐκχέαι αἷμα·
        σύντριμμα καὶ ταλαιπωρία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν,
        καὶ ὁδὸν εἰρήνης οὐκ ἔγνωσαν·
        οὐκ ἔστιν φόβος θεοῦ ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν.
Psa. 13:4         οὐχὶ γνώσονται πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν;
        οἱ κατεσθίοντες τὸν λαόν μου βρώσει ἄρτου τὸν κύριον οὐκ ἐπεκαλέσαντο.
Psa. 13:5         ἐκεῖ ἐδειλίασαν φόβῳ, οὗ οὐκ ἦν φόβος,
        ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἐν γενεᾷ δικαίᾳ.
Psa. 13:6         βουλὴν πτωχοῦ κατῃσχύνατε,
        ὅτι κύριος ἐλπὶς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν.
Psa. 13:7         τίς δώσει ἐκ Σιων τὸ σωτήριον τοῦ Ισραηλ;
        ἐν τῷ ἐπιστρέψαι κύριον τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ
        ἀγαλλιάσθω Ιακωβ καὶ εὐφρανθήτω Ισραηλ.

τουτος ψαλμος εστιν βοη τῳ κριματι. εστιν πολλυς ασηβης. πας ουκ εκζητει θεον. Παυλος εγραψεν απο τουτου ψαλμου εν επιστολῃ αυτου προς Ρωμην. βλεπωμεν την διαστολην μεν ἡ πλουτης μεν ὁ πτωκον. ὁ κακος κατεκρινει τον πτωκον, αλλα κυριος κατεκρινει πλουτον. ὁ κυριος αγαπα τον πτωοκον και ἡ ελπις του πτωκου εστιν ὁ κυριος. ουκ εστιν αλεθεια της ασηβης. ὁ κακος λεγει “ουκ εστιν θεος” αλλα θεος ηκουσεν αυτον. ὁ κυριος κρινεσει επι ημεραν κριτης, δικαιαν και αδικιαν.

ευχαριστω σε, θεος μου, οτι εἶ πτωχῳ. αγαπας ταπεινον και αντισσεσαι τον ὑπερεφανον. θελω ειναι ως σὐ κυριε μου. συ εἶ δικαιος, συ εἶ αξιος. ουκ αξιος ειμι. ψευδος και κακος ειμι. ευχαριστω σε οτι σταυρος Ιησοῦ! ουκ αξιος ειμι, αλλα εδικαιοσεν με εν ὑιῳ σου. μονος εστιν χαρις σου. ειμι ως ειμι χαριτι θεου. κυριε, θελω ποιεν δικαιῶ. θελω αγαπαν τον πτωκον ως συ. ελεησον με κυριε, τον ἁμαρτωλον.

αλεξανδρος

Writing in Greek

~ Alex Poulos ~ 4 Comments

I’ve started recently taking the advice of several folks regarding Greek composition. I’ve known for a while that only way I’ll learn the language well is to express my own thought in it. As I’ve been reading through the Psalms, I’ve finally changed my strategy to include a small bit of Greek composition. I had been going through bit by bit, attempting to learn all of the words I didn’t know. This was quite tedious, since there are so many words I don’t know!

What I have discovered is that I know enough to get a gist of what’s going on by a few re-readings. For instance, I can usually pick out the transition in a Psalm. Today, I was in Psalm 10 (LXX, Psalm 11 in our English Bibles) and the contrast was between the ungodly, and the righteous Lord. By focusing on the bigger picture instead of the granular details, I’m able to keep the whole Psalm in view much better. I know I’m missing details, but it’s much less tiresome and much more rewarding this way.

After reading a few times, I start to summarize the Psalms in Greek. I’ll vary the wording so I don’t just end up copying out of the Psalms. Where I can, I’ll use synonyms. After some summary, the reflection into a prayer. The prayers aren’t terribly long (and a First Century kindergartener would no doubt put me to shame in terms of style and vocab!) , but I must say that they’re tremendously helpful, especially spiritually. Thankfully, God has turned these into wonderful devotional moments! I’m starting to appreciate the Psalms in a way I never have before. I’m both learning lots of Greek, and constantly seeing the God for whom I’m doing so.

Πιστος εστιν ὁ Κυριος!

εν αυτῳ,
alex

Reading Old Texts

~ Alex Poulos ~ Leave a comment

Ben, over at Dunelm Road, has created a list of recommended background reading for the NT and Patristics study. I’m quite thankful for the list: there’s a lot of good recommendations! However, I’m also sad that my Greek and Latin aren’t better. I want to read those texts in their original languages! I’m currently working my way slowly through the Greek Psalms and Ignatius of Antioch. It’s terrific fun, but it is slow going. My Greek is improving, but I’m still a long ways off from being able to read like I can in French. I’ve found that reading outside the NT is quite helpful for Greek practice. I’m simply too familiar with most of the NT in English for it to benefit my Greek knowledge, ironically enough. I can’t say the same regarding the Psalms or Apostolic Fathers. Hopefully my Latin will progress quickly so I can actually start reading stuff. I’ve printed off a few pages of Tertullian but I can’t tell the verbs from the nouns yet ;-).

May God continue to empower our study of His languages!

~alex