Case in Point
Case in Point: the responsive psalm for the upcoming Sunday, Epiphany 6 is the eight alef verses of acrostic Psalm 119. Eight verses, the first word of each verse begins with the Hebrew letter alef. Or aleph, the English spellings are phonetic, spell them as you wish. The psalm is below. One can see that the forced poetry, though the psalmist does a commendable work, is somewhat awkward. Also note that Psalm 119 has 22 sections, one for each letter progressively through the alefbet, and that all eight lines of each of the 22-section poem begin with the same letter and letter sound (for the first set of eight verses, ahh or ach).
The mechon-mamre Hebrew-English presentation can be viewed at http://www.macquirelatory.com/Hebrew%20-%20English/pt26b9.htm
where one can see each verse beginning with א the ahh or ach sound,
and one can actually hear the acrostic in action as the poem is read in Hebrew at http://media.snunit.k12.il/kodeshm/mp3/t26b9.mp3
Psalm 119:1-16 BCP 763 Aleph: Beati immaculati
Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts!
Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways.
You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them.
Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes!
Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments.
I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments.
I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me.
BTW, the psalm is meant to respond to the First Lesson, which for Epiphany6A is Ecclesiasticus 15:11-20 (bit snippy, sarcastic, and frankly rather nasty, see below). Ecclesiasticus, or Jesus Son of Sirach, is not canonical Scripture in the Anglican church, of which the Episcopal Church is the official province in the USA, but a book of the Apocrypha. When it was read in the liturgy, I always instructed the lector, and required, that the closing acclamation be “Here ends the reading,” and NOT “The Word of the Lord.” At any event, here’s the First Reading for Sunday, February 12:
Ecclesiasticus 15:11-20
Do not say, "It was the Lord's doing that I fell away";
for he does not do what he hates.
Do not say, "It was he who led me astray";
for he has no need of the sinful.
The Lord hates all abominations;
such things are not loved by those who fear him.
It was he who created humankind in the beginning,
and he left them in the power of their own free choice.
If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.
Todays cars are Chrysler products, a 1935 Dodge convertible and a 1935 Plymouth convertible.
DThos+ still in Stoppage Time of +Time+
Oh, and WTH, the 1935 Chrysler convertible I posted last week. The design resemblance for "family identity" is obvious.
I would also post a 1935 DeSoto Airstream Convertible picture (also a Chrysler product) but didn't see a decent one this morning. Here's the rumble-seat coupe though, silhouette
Well, some 1935 DeSoto convertibles after all - ->
And a 1935 DeSoto Airflow
The mechon-mamre Hebrew-English presentation can be viewed at http://www.macquirelatory.com/Hebrew%20-%20English/pt26b9.htm
where one can see each verse beginning with א the ahh or ach sound,
and one can actually hear the acrostic in action as the poem is read in Hebrew at http://media.snunit.k12.il/kodeshm/mp3/t26b9.mp3
Psalm 119:1-16 BCP 763 Aleph: Beati immaculati
Happy are they whose way is blameless, *
who walk in the law of the LORD!
Happy are they who observe his decrees *
and seek him with all their hearts!
Who never do any wrong, *
but always walk in his ways.
You laid down your commandments, *
that we should fully keep them.
Oh, that my ways were made so direct *
that I might keep your statutes!
Then I should not be put to shame, *
when I regard all your commandments.
I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, *
when I have learned your righteous judgments.
I will keep your statutes; *
do not utterly forsake me.
BTW, the psalm is meant to respond to the First Lesson, which for Epiphany6A is Ecclesiasticus 15:11-20 (bit snippy, sarcastic, and frankly rather nasty, see below). Ecclesiasticus, or Jesus Son of Sirach, is not canonical Scripture in the Anglican church, of which the Episcopal Church is the official province in the USA, but a book of the Apocrypha. When it was read in the liturgy, I always instructed the lector, and required, that the closing acclamation be “Here ends the reading,” and NOT “The Word of the Lord.” At any event, here’s the First Reading for Sunday, February 12:
Ecclesiasticus 15:11-20
Do not say, "It was the Lord's doing that I fell away";
for he does not do what he hates.
Do not say, "It was he who led me astray";
for he has no need of the sinful.
The Lord hates all abominations;
such things are not loved by those who fear him.
It was he who created humankind in the beginning,
and he left them in the power of their own free choice.
If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.
Todays cars are Chrysler products, a 1935 Dodge convertible and a 1935 Plymouth convertible.
DThos+ still in Stoppage Time of +Time+
Oh, and WTH, the 1935 Chrysler convertible I posted last week. The design resemblance for "family identity" is obvious.
I would also post a 1935 DeSoto Airstream Convertible picture (also a Chrysler product) but didn't see a decent one this morning. Here's the rumble-seat coupe though, silhouette
Well, some 1935 DeSoto convertibles after all - ->
And a 1935 DeSoto Airflow