Psalm XVIII/XIX – Coeli enarrant
Cerurile spun slava numelui lui Dumnezeu
Iar firmamentul da marturie despre lucrarea mainilor sale
Ziua da de veste zilei urmatoare
Iar noptii ce vine cuvant ii da noaptea ce tocmai a trecut.
The splendor of Psalm 19 is partly the result of inspired editing. Two psalms have been joined together, but once joined, let no man put them assunder!
(Erik Routhley - Exploring the Psalms)
I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter and one of the greatest lyrics in the world.
(C. S. Lewis - Reflections on the Psalms)
This is faith - the word within responding to the word in eternity.
(Erik Routhley - Exploring the Psalms)
Its structure: six verses about Nature, five about the Law, and four of personal prayer. The actual words supply no logical connection between the first and second movements. In this way its technique resembles that of the most modern poetry. A modern poet would pass with the same abruptness from one theme to another and leave you to find out the connecting link for yourself. I doubt if the ancient poet was like that. I think he felt, effortlessly and without reflecting on it, so close a connection, that he passed from the first theme to the second without realizing that he had made any transition.
(C. S. Lewis - Reflections on the Psalms)
To the faithful Israelite the law was never a dead thing, whatever later legalism made of it. It was honored not in blind obedience but in right decisions.
(Erik Routhley - Exploring the Psalms)
The key phrase on which the whole poem depends is there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. It pierces everywhere with its strong, clean ardour.
(C. S. Lewis - Reflections on the Psalms)
Comentariile lui Routhley si Lewis, din care am dat mai sus cateva frangmente, m-au pasionat. Structura psalmului: meditatie asupra maretiei naturii, care exprima maretia divina; meditatie asupra respectului datorat legii divine; rugaciune personala. Ei bine, Lewis observa ca psalmistul trece de la prima sectiune (maretia naturii) la a doua (respectul datorat legii divine) fara sa faca o conexiune logica - e o trecere abrupta. Asta, zice Lewis, este caracteristic poetilor moderni - trecerea abrupta, iar conexiunea este lasata ca drept si datorie a cititorului. Si continua Lewis, probabil ca psalmistul nu a facut asa din spirit modern avant la lettre - probabil ca lui i s-a parut atat de firesc ca maretia naturii implica respectul legii divine, incat a continuat firesc - daca vreti, pentru el asta era ritmul frazei. Oricum, zice Lewis, cheia intelegerii conexiunii celor doua sectiuni (si a intelegerii intregului psalm) este fraza: si nu este cine sa se ascunda de caldura lui. Iar Routhley vine si zice, in aceeasi idee, insa cu alte cuvinte - pentru evreul credincios, Legea Domnului este vie, nu este ucisa de comentatorii legalisti de mai tarziu - dar ratiunea apare altfel la evreul credincios - nu e un respect orb al Legii, ci un respect firesc, implicat de constientizarea maretiei Universului.
Cartea lui C.S. Lewis de reflexii asupra psalmilor merita citita. Lewis, autorul Cronicilor Narniei, mediteaza psalmii subtil, profund, original.
Cerurile spun slava lui Dumnezeu si facerea mainilor Lui o vesteste taria.
Ziua zilei spune cuvant, si noaptea noptii vesteste stiinta.
Nu sunt graiuri, nici cuvinte, ale caror glasuri sa nu se auda.
In tot pamantul a iesit vestirea lor, si la marginile lumii cuvintele lor.
In soare si-a pus locasul sau; si el este ca un mire ce iese din camara sa.
Bucura-se-va ca un urias, care alearga drumul lui.
De la marginea cerului iesirea lui, si oprirea lui pana la marginea cerului; si nu este cine sa se ascunda de caldura lui.
Legea Domnului este fara prihana, intoarce sufletele; marturia Domnului este credincioasa, intelepteste pruncii;
Judecatile Domnului sunt drepte, veselesc inima; porunca Domnului este stralucitoare, lumineaza ochii.
Frica de Domnul este curata, ramane in veacul veacului. Judecatile Domnului sunt adevarate, toate indreptatite.
Dorite sunt mai mult decat aurul, si decat piatra cea de mare pret; si mai dulci decat mierea si fagurele.
Ca robul Tau le pazeste pe ele, si rasplatire multa are.
Greselile cine le va pricepe? De cele ascunse ale mele curateste-ma
Şi de cele straine fereste pe robul Tau; de nu ma vor stapani, atunci fara prihana voi fi si ma voi curati de pacat mare.
Şi vor bineplacea cuvintele gurii mele si cugetul inimii mele inaintea Ta pururea; Doamne, Ajutorul meu si Izbavitorul meu.
Ziua zilei spune cuvant, si noaptea noptii vesteste stiinta.
Nu sunt graiuri, nici cuvinte, ale caror glasuri sa nu se auda.
In tot pamantul a iesit vestirea lor, si la marginile lumii cuvintele lor.
In soare si-a pus locasul sau; si el este ca un mire ce iese din camara sa.
Bucura-se-va ca un urias, care alearga drumul lui.
De la marginea cerului iesirea lui, si oprirea lui pana la marginea cerului; si nu este cine sa se ascunda de caldura lui.
Legea Domnului este fara prihana, intoarce sufletele; marturia Domnului este credincioasa, intelepteste pruncii;
Judecatile Domnului sunt drepte, veselesc inima; porunca Domnului este stralucitoare, lumineaza ochii.
Frica de Domnul este curata, ramane in veacul veacului. Judecatile Domnului sunt adevarate, toate indreptatite.
Dorite sunt mai mult decat aurul, si decat piatra cea de mare pret; si mai dulci decat mierea si fagurele.
Ca robul Tau le pazeste pe ele, si rasplatire multa are.
Greselile cine le va pricepe? De cele ascunse ale mele curateste-ma
Şi de cele straine fereste pe robul Tau; de nu ma vor stapani, atunci fara prihana voi fi si ma voi curati de pacat mare.
Şi vor bineplacea cuvintele gurii mele si cugetul inimii mele inaintea Ta pururea; Doamne, Ajutorul meu si Izbavitorul meu.
(Cartea Psalmilor)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(King James Bible)
Come, let us sound with melody the praises
Of the kings’ king, the omnipotent creator,
Author of number, that hath all the world in
Harmony framed.
Heaven is his throne perpetually shining,
His divine power and glory thence he thunders,
One in all, and all in one abiding,
Both father, and son.
O sacred sprite, invisible, eternal,
Every where, yet unlimited, that all things
Canst in one moment penetrate, revive me,
O holy spirit.
Rescue, O rescue me from earthly darkness,
Banish hence all these elemental objects,
Guide my soul that thirsts to the lively fountain
Of thy divineness
Cleanse my soul, O God, thy bespotted image,
Altered with sin that heavenly pureness
Cannot acknowledge me but in thy mercies,
O father of grace.
But when once thy beams do remove my darkness,
O then I’ll shine forth as an angel of light,
And record, with more than an earthly voice, thy
Infinite honors.
Of the kings’ king, the omnipotent creator,
Author of number, that hath all the world in
Harmony framed.
Heaven is his throne perpetually shining,
His divine power and glory thence he thunders,
One in all, and all in one abiding,
Both father, and son.
O sacred sprite, invisible, eternal,
Every where, yet unlimited, that all things
Canst in one moment penetrate, revive me,
O holy spirit.
Rescue, O rescue me from earthly darkness,
Banish hence all these elemental objects,
Guide my soul that thirsts to the lively fountain
Of thy divineness
Cleanse my soul, O God, thy bespotted image,
Altered with sin that heavenly pureness
Cannot acknowledge me but in thy mercies,
O father of grace.
But when once thy beams do remove my darkness,
O then I’ll shine forth as an angel of light,
And record, with more than an earthly voice, thy
Infinite honors.
Thomas Campion (1567 – 1619)
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator’s power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator’s power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty hand.
Soon as the evening shades prevail
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
“The hand that made us is divine.”
Joseph Addison (1672–1719)
posted by Pierre Radulescu at
10:59 PM
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