Psalm 134
Psalm 134 | |
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"Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD" | |
Old City , Jerusalem | |
Other name |
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Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 134 is the 134th psalm from the
This psalm is Psalm 133 in the slightly different numbering system of the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate versions of the Bible.
The psalm forms a regular part of
Text
Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text[4][5] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
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1 | שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ בָּרְכ֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הֹוָה כׇּל־עַבְדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הָעֹמְדִ֥ים בְּבֵית־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃ | A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, That stand in the house of the LORD in the night seasons. |
2 | שְׂאֽוּ־יְדֵכֶ֥ם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝בָרְכ֗וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃ | Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless ye the LORD. |
3 | יְבָרֶכְךָ֣ יְ֭הֹוָה מִצִּיּ֑וֹן עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃ | The LORD bless thee out of Zion; Even He that made heaven and earth. |
King James Version
- Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
- Lift your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
- The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Background and themes
The Midrash Tehillim connects the contents of this psalm to several Jewish practices. Rabbi Yochanan says that "servants of the Lord who stand in the house of the Lord at night" mentioned in verse 1 refers to those who engage in nighttime Torah study, which God considers in the same light "as if they occupied themselves with the priest's service in the house of the Lord". The midrash connects the lifting of the hands in preparation for blessing the Lord in verse 2 with the practice of lifting the cup of wine with both hands for the recital of the Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals). The midrash further connects this verse to the Priestly Blessing, as Rabbi Simeon ben Pazzi says that a Kohen who has not ritually washed his hands may not lift them to invoke the Priestly Blessing.[9]
The Zohar also explains verse 2 as referring to the kohanim (members of the Jewish priestly class) who bestow the priestly blessing upon the congregation in the synagogue with raised hands. Before pronouncing the blessing, the kohanim must ritually wash their hands. They do not do so themselves; rather, the handwashing is performed by members of the levitical class, "who themselves are holy". If a Levite is not present in the synagogue, a firstborn son pours the water, since he too is called "holy".[10]
Uses
Judaism
Psalm 134 is recited following the
Verses 1 and 2 are part of the penitential poetry of Selichot.[12]
During the ritual washing of the hands before breaking bread, some say verse 2 prior to the blessing of al netilat yadayim.[14][15]
Catholic Church
The psalm, mentioning "night", forms part of the
Anglican Communion
The Book of Common Prayer translation of the psalm consists of four verses:[17]
- Behold now, praise the Lord: all ye servants of the Lord;
- Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord: even in the courts of the house of our God.
- Lift up your hands in the sanctuary: and praise the Lord.
- The Lord that made heaven and earth: give thee blessing out of Sion.
In the Church of Ireland and other churches in the Anglican Communion, this psalm (listed as Ecce Nunc) is also listed as a canticle.[18]
Orthodox Church
This Psalm is used in the night prayer, which is one among the seven canonical prayers. The psalm 134, 119:169-176, 117 together used as a single prayer.
Musical settings
Among the hymns which are based on Psalm 134 is "Come, all you servants of the Lord", which
John Dowland supplied a setting in English, "Behold and have regard", to the collection The Whole Booke of Psalmes with works by ten composers, published in 1592 by Thomas Este.[23][24] Benjamin Rogers set the version in the English Book of Common Prayer, Behold, now praise the Lord, for choir a cappella in the 17th century.[25] Malcolm Hill composed a setting in English for mixed choir and organ in 1996, titled Meditation on Psalm 134.[26]
References
- ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 133 (134) Archived 7 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
- ^ Samet, Rav Elchanan (2018). "Shiur #08: Psalm 117 – 'O Praise The Lord, All You Nations' The Shortest Psalm in the Book of Tehillim". Yeshivat Har Etzion. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Psalm 134: NKJV
- ^ "Psalms – Chapter 134". Mechon Mamre.
- ^ "Psalms 134 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
- ^ Henry, Matthew. "Psalms 134". Bible Study Tools. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Jerusalem Bible (1966), footnote at Psalm 134
- ^ "Charles H. Spurgeon's Treasury of David: Psalm 134". christianity.com. 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ "Midrash Tehillim / Psalms 134" (PDF). matsati.com. October 2012. p. 1. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ISBN 9780873068895.
- ISBN 1461631246.
- ^ a b Brauner, Reuven (2013). "Shimush Pesukim: Comprehensive Index to Liturgical and Ceremonial Uses of Biblical Verses and Passages" (PDF) (2nd ed.). p. 49.
- ^ "General". DailyTehillim.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ISBN 9780881259667.
- ISBN 978-1-928822-84-4
- ^ "St. Benedict's Psalmody". University of Toronto. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "Psalm 134". ChoralWiki. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ "2004 Texts (Section: The Canticles)". The Church of Ireland.
- ^ "Come, all you servants of the Lord". hymnary.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Free scores of Ecce nunc benedicite (Tomás Luis de Victoria) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- ^ "Laudent Deum: Sacred Music by Orlande de Lassus" (PDF). Chandos Records. 2011. p. 10. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ Free scores of Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum (Orlando di Lasso) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- ^ The Whole Booke of Psalmes (Various): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- ^ Psalm 134: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- ^ Free scores of Behold, now praise the Lord (Benjamin Rogers) in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- ^ Meditation on Psalm 134 (Hill, Malcolm): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
External links
- Psalm 134: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Pieces with text from Psalm 134: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Psalms Chapter 134 text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
- Psalm 134 – The LORD Bless You from Zion text and detailed commentary, enduringword.com
- A song of ascents. O come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD text and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 134:1 introduction and text, biblestudytools.com
- Charles H. Spurgeon: Psalm 134 detailed commentary, archive.spurgeon.org
- Psalm 134 / Refrain: Bless the Lord, O my soul. Church of England
- Psalm 134 at biblegateway.com
- Hymns for Psalm 134 hymnary.org