It is divided into either 10 or 11 verses (depending on whether the introductory {{lang|he|לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמֹור לְדָוִֽד}} "To the chief Musician [נצח], A Psalm of David" is counted as a separate verse).
It is directed against the "wicked" (רעע) and "workers of iniquity" (פֹּעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן), whom God shall shoot with an arrow (וַיֹּרֵם אֱלֹהִים חֵץ)
Verses 6–7 (Vulgate: Psalm 63:7-8) have been the subject of confusion in early Bible translations; KJV translates the Hebrew as:
Scrutati sunt iniquitates; defecerunt scrutantes scrutinio. Accedet homo ad cor altum, et exaltabitur Deus. Sagittæ parvulorum factæ sunt plagæ eorum,which translates to "They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search. Man shall accede to a lofty heart: And God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds."
The adjective altum in Latin has both the meanings "high" and "deep", and it is here used to translate LXX βαθεῖα "deep",[1] but it offered itself to an interpretation of an "exalted heart". The "arrows of children" (Sagittæ parvulum) render LXX βέλος νηπίων, which has no correspondence in the Hebrew text as it has come down to us.{{Who|date=February 2016}}
Jerome's translation gave rise to mystical interpretations involving the Sacred Heart in early modern Christian tradition.[2]
Uses
Catholic Church
This psalm was chosen by St. Benedict of Nursia around 530, for the solemn office at the lauds of Wednesday. In the Rule of St. Benedict, it was recited or sung after Psalm 51 (50) and followed by Psalm 65 (64) (chapter XIII). A number of abbeys still retain this tradition since the 6th century.
[3][4]In the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 64 is recited or sung at the midday office on the Saturday of the second week.[5]
References
1. ^{{LSJ|baqu/s|βαθύς|cite}}
2. ^e.g. Serafino Capponi, Commentaria in Psalterium Davidicum, Volume 3, 1738, [https://books.google.ch/books?id=K_xDAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false p. 95], interprets this in terms of Christ himself being the Man who can "accede to that exalted heart", Hic [Christus] solus accessit ad illum cor altum.
3. ^Traduction par Prosper Guéranger, (Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression 2007) p. 41.
4. ^Psaultier latin-français du bréviaire monastique,, 1938/2003, p. 267.
5. ^The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
External links
{{commonscat|Psalm 64}}- {{bibleverse|Psalm|64|HE}} in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
- {{bibleverse|Psalm|64|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
- Blue Letter Bible (Hebrew, LXX and various English translations)
- LXX, Vulgate and Knox Translation (newadvent.org)
{{Psalms}} 2 : Psalms|Works attributed to David