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Thursday, April 2, 2015

Psalm 115 -- translated by Robert Alter for THE BOOK OF PSALMS (2007)

Prof. Alter teaches Hebrew and Comparative Literature at Univ. of California, Berkley -- his translation is published by W.W. Norton and includes an introduction (Historical contexts; Assembling the Book; The Poetry of Psalms; The Challenge of translating psalms; The text of psalms).
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to Your name give glory for Your kindness and Your steadfast truth.
Why should the nations say,
"Where is their god?"
when our God is in the heavens --
all that He desired He has done.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the handiwork of man.
A mouth they have but they do not speak,
eyes they have but they do not see.
Ears they have but they do not hear,
a nose they have but they do not smell.
Their hands -- but they do not feel;
their feet -- but they do not walk;
they make no sound with their throat.
Like them may be those who make them,
all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the LORD;
their help and their shield is He.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD,
their help and their shield is He.
The LORD recalls us, may He bless,
may He bless the house of Israel,
may he bless the house of Aaron.
May He bless those who fear the LORD, the lesser with the great.
May the LORD grant you increase,
both you and your children.
Blessed are you by the LORD,
maker of heaven and earth.
The heavens are heavens for the LORD,
and the earth He has given to humankind.
The dead do not praise the LORD
nor all who go down into silence.
But we will praise Yah
now and forevermore, Hallelujah!

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