Psalm 5 is the fifth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Give ear to my words, O , consider my meditation". The Book of Psalms is part of the Ketuvim (Writings)—the third section of the Hebrew Bible—and a book of the Christian Old Testament. In Latin, it is known as "". The psalm is traditionally attributed to David. It reflects how the righteous pray for deliverance not only from suffering, but also to allow themselves to serve God without distraction.The Artscroll Tehillim page 6 The New King James Version entitles it "A Prayer for Guidance".
The psalm is a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music by composers, such as Heinrich Schütz, Felix Mendelssohn, and Edward Elgar.
Themes
Psalm 5 falls within the genre of morning prayer because the morning was very important in the religions of the ancient Near East. Hence, verse 4: In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. The psalm opens as a lament,Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Footnote a at Psalm 5 in the New American Bible Revised Edition continues with praise, and requests that God punish evildoers. The psalmist describes the throat of the wicked as an open sepulcher. The psalmist ends (verse 12 or 13) with a blessing extended to all those who trust in God.
Interpretation An accurate translation of the Biblical Hebrew word (in the superscription or verse 1) is elusive; the Christian New Revised Standard Version and the Luther Bible give it as "for flute".
The Septuagint, Vulgate and some Arabic translations attribute from "inherit" meaning "" (Vulgate) and (Septuagint). Accordingly, it would be translated into English as "in favor of those who receive the inheritance". Therefore Augustine of Hippo,Augustine: Enarrationes in Psalmos (vollständige englische Übersetzung), Cassiodor: Expositio in Psalterium. Cassiodorus and others interpreted it as "those heirs of God".
A thoroughly Christological interpretation can be found in Martin Luther's work, in which he finds the third verse revealing that the humanization of humankind occurs through the incarnation of Jesus.Luther, M., Weimarer Ausgabe (Luther) 5,128f.
Gerhard Ebeling sees in the psalm both as complaining (verse 10) and also at the same time as exultation and rejoicing (verse 12).Gerhard Ebeling (1968) Psalmenmeditation, p. 65.
Context Psalm 5 uses musical instruments, flutes. Psalm 4 is the first psalm using a musical instrument, strings or "stringed instruments".
A new theme is introduced, the name of God, in verse 11: But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
This is the first of five psalms (Psalms 5–9) all speaking of "the name of God", with nine verses speaking to various aspects, namely Psalm 5:11, Psalm 6:5, Psalm 7:17, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 8:9, Psalm 9:2, Psalm 9:5, and Psalm 9:10. Various types of flow in the Book of Psalms are explored by various authors such as O. Palmer Robertson.O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms: Discovering Their Structure and Theolog. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2015.
An emphasis on a particular genre of psalm, the lament. In Psalm 5:1, God is called on to "listen to my lament." The most common genre of psalm in the book of Psalms will be the lament.James K. Bruckner, Healthy Human Life: A Biblical Witness, 2012John Bergsma and Brrant Pitre, A Catholic Introduction to the Old Testament, Ignatius Press Laments can be seen to occur more heavily in the first half of the book of Psalms.
Text The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. #HebrewEnglishGreek In the Jewish verse numbering, the ascription of this psalm is verse 1, and the rest of the psalm begins from verse 2. However, the Christian verse numbering does not count the ascription as a separate verse. (To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.) 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Uses Judaism In Judaism, verse 8 of Psalm 5 is the second verse of Ma Tovu.The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 12
New Testament Verse 9 is quoted in .
Catholic Church According to the Rule of St. Benedict, from 530, Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 were mainly reserved for office of Prime. Since the time of Saint Benedict, the Rule of Benedict has used this psalm for the office Lauds on Monday (Chapter XIII).Traduction par Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression, 2007) p41.Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique,(1938/2003) p178. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 5 is still recited or sung at Lauds on Monday of the first week.The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
Coptic Orthodox Church In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Prime.
Book of Common Prayer In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 5 is appointed to be read on the morning of the first day of the month.Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, p. 196ff
Music Caspar cross Hamer (1546) created in 1537 the chorale drawn heavily from the Psalms.
Heinrich Schütz composed a setting of a metred version in German, "", SWV 101, published in 1628 in the Becker Psalter. Felix Mendelssohn composed a setting of Psalm 5 in English, "Lord, hear the voice," for men's chorus in 1839. In 1911, Edward Elgar dedicated a setting for choir and orchestra, "", as an offertory for the coronation of King George V.
Illuminated Manuscripts
Notes
References
External links
in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre Text of Psalm 5 according to the 1928 Psalter For the leader; with wind instruments. A psalm of David. / Give ear to my words, O LORD; understand my sighing. (text and footnotes) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Psalm 5:1 (introduction and text) biblestudytools.com Psalm 5 – A Morning Prayer enduringword.com Psalm 5 / Refrain: You, O Lord, will bless the righteous. Church of England Psalm 5 at biblegateway.com Hymns for Psalm 5 hymnary.org PSALMUS 05, Vatican City