Interpretation of the Psalms 87.1–87.19
Greek text: PG 80.English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 87
87.1PG 80 80:1567
« ᾿Ὠδὴ ψαλμοῦ, Τοῖς υἱοῖς Κορέ · εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ Μαελὲθ τοῦ ἀποκριθῆναι· συνέσεως, Αἰμὰν τῷ Ἰσραηλίτῃ.» Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος, ἀντὶ τοῦ, ὑπὲρ Μαελέθ, διὰ χοροῦ· εἴρηκεν· ὁ δὲ ᾿Ακύλας, ἐπὶ χορείᾳ· καὶ ὁ Αἰμὰν δὲ χοροῦ τινὸς ἐξῆρχεν ἀδόντων, καὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἀνυμνούντων. Ἡ δὲ ἀπόκρισις αἰνίττεται τὰ ἀντιφθεγγόμενα τάγματα τῶν χορῶν. Ἡ μέντοι προφητεία προθεσπίζει τὰς Ἰουδαίων συμφορὰς, καὶ τὴν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι δουλείαν. Διδάσκει δὲ κατὰ ταυτὸν καὶ πάσης ὁμοῦ τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεως τὰς μετὰ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ὀδύνας. Ἐσχημάτισται δὲ εἰς ἱκετείαν ἡ τοῦ ψαλμοῦ προφητεία, ὑπό τε τούτων, ὑπό τε κοινῇ πάντων προσφερομένη τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ Θεῷ· ἁρμόττει δὲ τοῖς εὐσεβεστέροις ἡ προσευχή.
« ᾿Ōdē psalmou, Tois huiois Kore ; eis to telos, hyper Maeleth tou apokrithēnai; syneseōs, Aiman tǭ Israēlitę̄.» Ho de Symmachos, anti tou, hyper Maeleth, dia chorou; eirēken; ho de ᾿Akylas, epi choreią; kai ho Aiman de chorou tinos exērchen adontōn, kai ton Theon anymnountōn. Hē de apokrisis ainittetai ta antiphthengomena tagmata tōn chorōn. Hē mentoi prophēteia prothespizei tas Ioudaiōn symphoras, kai tēn en Babylōni douleian. Didaskei de kata tauton kai pasēs homou tēs anthrōpinēs physeōs tas meta tēn hamartian odynas. Eschēmatistai de eis hiketeian hē tou psalmou prophēteia, hypo te toutōn, hypo te koinę̄ pantōn prospheromenē tǭ philanthrōpǭ Theǭ; harmottei de tois eusebesterois hē proseuchē.
"An ode of a psalm, for the sons of Korah; to the end; for Maeleth, for answering; of understanding; of Heman the Israelite." For "for Maeleth" Symmachus said "through a choir"; Aquila, "for dancing." Heman too led a choir of singers hymning God; and the "answering" hints at the choirs' ranks singing in response. The prophecy foretells the misfortunes of the Jews and the slavery in Babylon; and at the same time it teaches the pains of all human nature after sin. The prophecy of the psalm is framed as a supplication offered to God who loves humankind both by those people and by all in common; the prayer suits the more pious.
Ps 88:1 (87:1 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · 1 Chr 15:19 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88, title: the psalm, for Heman's choir, laments the Jews' captivity and the sufferings of all mankind after sin.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray mark (OCR)): ἀνυμνούντων». Ἡ δὲ → ἀνυμνούντων. Ἡ δὲ.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.1 (PG 80 80:1567; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-1
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.2PG 80 80:1567
« Κύριε, ὁ Θεὸς τῆς σωτηρίας μου, ἡμέρας ἐκέκραξα καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ ἐναντίον σου. Εἰσελθέτω˙ ἐνὡπιόν σου ἡ προσευχή μου. » Σὲ, Δέσποτα, Κύριον οἶδα τῆς ἐμῆς σωτηρίας · διά τοι τοῦτο νύκτωρ καὶ μεθ' ἡμέραν ἀντιβολῶ τὴν ἐμὴν ἱκετείαν δεχθῆναι. [ Τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει διὰ τῶν ἑξῆς· ] « Κλῖνον τὸ οὖς σου εἰς τὴν δέησίν μου. » [ Καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν ἀντιβολεῖ διὰ τῶν ἑξῆς καὶ λέγει· ]
« Kyrie, ho Theos tēs sōtērias mou, hēmeras ekekraxa kai en nykti enantion sou. Eiselthetō˙ enōpion sou hē proseuchē mou. » Se, Despota, Kyrion oida tēs emēs sōtērias ; dia toi touto nyktōr kai meth' hēmeran antibolō tēn emēn hiketeian dechthēnai. [ Touto gar legei dia tōn hexēs; ] « Klinon to ous sou eis tēn deēsin mou. » [ Kai tinos heneken antibolei dia tōn hexēs kai legei; ]
"Lord, God of my salvation, by day I cried and by night before you. Let my prayer come before you." "I know you, Master, as Lord of my salvation; for this reason by night and by day I beg that my supplication be accepted." [For he says this through what follows:] "Incline your ear to my petition." [And for what reason he begs, he says through what follows:]
Ps 88:1 (87:2 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 88:2 (87:3 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:1-2: the psalmist cries day and night to the God of his salvation.
- The bracketed sentences are bracketed in Migne, probably additions from the catena.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.2 (PG 80 80:1567; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-2
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.4PG 80 80:1569
« Ὅτι ἐπλήσθη κακῶν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ ἡ ζωή μου τῷ ᾅδῃ ἤγγισεν. » Τὸ πλῆθος ἀντιβολῶ σε τῶν περιστοιχιζόντων με θεωρήσας κακῶν [ἀποσόβησον·] παρ᾿ αὐτὸν γὰρ εἰμι τὸν θάνατον, καὶ τῆς σῆς δέομαι βοηθείας, ἧς γεγυμνωμένος δεδούλωμαι τῇ ἁμαρτίᾳ. Τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει·
« Hoti eplēsthē kakōn hē psychē mou, kai hē zōē mou tǭ hądę̄ ēngisen. » To plēthos antibolō se tōn peristoichizontōn me theōrēsas kakōn [aposobēson;] par᾿ auton gar eimi ton thanaton, kai tēs sēs deomai boētheias, hēs gegymnōmenos dedoulōmai tę̄ hamartią. Touto gar legei;
"For my soul is full of evils, and my life has drawn near to Hades." "I beg you, seeing the multitude of evils surrounding me, [drive them away]; for I am at death's very door and need your help, stripped of which I have been enslaved to sin." For he says this:
Ps 88:3 (87:4 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:3: the psalmist, full of evils and near death, asks for help.
- The bracketed words are bracketed in Migne; a stray closing bracket is removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray bracket (OCR); stray letter (OCR); stray mark (OCR)): ψυχή μου', καὶ → ψυχή μου, καὶ; [ο ἀποσόβησον·] → [ἀποσόβησον·]; Τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει·] → Τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει·.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.4 (PG 80 80:1569; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-4
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.5PG 80 80:1569
« Προσελογίσθην μετὰ τῶν καταβαινόντων εἰς λάκκον. » ᾿Αφύκτοις τισὶ περιπέπτωκα συμφοραῖς, καὶ ἀπαλλαγὴν οὐδεμίαν εὑρίσκω, ἀλλ᾽ ἔοικα τοῖς εἰς λάκκον ἐμπεπτωκόσι, καὶ ἀναβῆναι μὴ δυναμένοις. « Ἐγενήθην ὡσεὶ ἄνθρωπος ἀβοήθητος. » Πάσης προνοίας καὶ κηδεμονίας γεγύμνωμαι.
« Proselogisthēn meta tōn katabainontōn eis lakkon. » ᾿Aphyktois tisi peripeptōka symphorais, kai apallagēn oudemian heuriskō, all᾽ eoika tois eis lakkon empeptōkosi, kai anabēnai mē dynamenois. « Egenēthēn hōsei anthrōpos aboēthētos. » Pasēs pronoias kai kēdemonias gegymnōmai.
"I am counted with those who go down into the pit." "I have fallen into inescapable misfortunes and find no release, but am like those who have fallen into a pit and cannot climb out." "I have become like a man without help." "I am stripped of all providence and care."
Ps 88:4 (87:5 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:4: the psalmist is like one fallen into a pit, without help.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray mark (OCR)): δυναμένοις ". → δυναμένοις..
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.5 (PG 80 80:1569; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-5
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.6PG 80 80:1569
· Ἐν νεκροῖς ἐλεύθερος. » Καὶ μηδέπω τὴν τελευτὴν ὑπομείνας, μηδὲ τοῦ θανάτου τὴν δουλείαν δεξάμενος, ἐμαυτὸν συναριθμῶ τοῖς ἐν νεκροῖς. • Ὡσεὶ τραυματίαι καθεύδοντες ἐν τάφῳ, ὧν οὐκ ἐμνήσθης ἔτι, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐκ τῆς χειρός σου ἀπώσθησαν. » Τῷ Ἐγενήθην καὶ ταῦτα συντέτακται. Ἐγενήθην ὡσεὶ ἄνθρωπος ἀβοήθητος, ἐν νεκροῖς ἐλεύθερος, καὶ μηδέπω τοῦ θανάτου τὴν δουλείαν δεξάμενος. Ἐγενήθην ὡς τραυματίας ἐν πολέμῳ τετρωμένος, καὶ ταφῇ παραδεδομένος. Τοῦτο γὰρ οὕτως ὁ Σύμμαχος εἴρηκεν· Ὡς οἱ τετρωμένοι οἱ κείμενοι ἐν τάφῳ, ὧν οὐ μνημονεύσῃ οὐκ ἔτι, οἱ τινες ὑπὸ τῆς χεῖρός σου· ἐξεκόπησαν. [ Ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ, φησὶν, ὑπὸ τῆς προνοίας τῆς σῆς ἐξεκόπησαν · φθάσει δὲ ἡ σὴ ῥοπὴ, ἵνα μὴ τῷ αὐτῷ βόθρῳ κἀγὼ περιπέσω. ]
; En nekrois eleutheros. » Kai mēdepō tēn teleutēn hypomeinas, mēde tou thanatou tēn douleian dexamenos, emauton synarithmō tois en nekrois. • Hōsei traumatiai katheudontes en taphǭ, hōn ouk emnēsthēs eti, kai autoi ek tēs cheiros sou apōsthēsan. » Tǭ Egenēthēn kai tauta syntetaktai. Egenēthēn hōsei anthrōpos aboēthētos, en nekrois eleutheros, kai mēdepō tou thanatou tēn douleian dexamenos. Egenēthēn hōs traumatias en polemǭ tetrōmenos, kai taphę̄ paradedomenos. Touto gar houtōs ho Symmachos eirēken; Hōs hoi tetrōmenoi hoi keimenoi en taphǭ, hōn ou mnēmoneusę̄ ouk eti, hoi tines hypo tēs cheiros sou; exekopēsan. [ Ekeinoi gar, phēsin, hypo tēs pronoias tēs sēs exekopēsan ; phthasei de hē sē rhopē, hina mē tǭ autǭ bothrǭ kagō peripesō. ]
"Free among the dead." "Though I have not yet died nor received the slavery of death, I number myself with those among the dead." "Like the slain who sleep in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and they were thrust away from your hand." This too is constructed with "I have become": "I have become like a man without help, free among the dead, not yet having received the slavery of death; I have become like one wounded in war and given to burial." Symmachus said this thus: "Like the wounded who lie in the grave, whom you will remember no longer, who were cut off by your hand." ["For those," he says, "were cut off by your providence; but let your aid come first, so that I do not fall into the same pit."]
Ps 88:5 (87:6 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:5: the psalmist, though alive, counts himself among the slain in the grave whom God no longer remembers.
- The bracketed sentence is bracketed in Migne, probably an addition from the catena.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray mark (OCR)): ἀπώσθησαν. ) Τῷ → ἀπώσθησαν. » Τῷ.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.6 (PG 80 80:1569; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-6
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.7PG 80 80:1569
« Ἔθεντό με ἐν λάκκῳ κατωτάτῳ, ἐν σκοτεινοῖς, καὶ ἐν σκιᾷ θανάτου . » Καὶ ταῦτα τοῖς ἐν Βαβυλῶνι διάγειν ἠναγκασμένοις ἁρμόττει τὰ ῥήματα, καὶ πάσῃ τῶν ἀνθρώπων τῇ φύσει. Ἐκεῖνοί τε γὰρ πονηροῖς ἀνθρώποις δουλεύοντες ὀδυνηρὸν βίον ἔζων · καὶ ἅπαντες ἄνθρωποι παντοδαπαῖς μετὰ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν περιέπεσαν συμφοραίς. Μετὰ γὰρ τὴν παράβασιν τῆς ἐντολῆς θάνατος, καὶ πένθος, καὶ δάκρυα, οἰμωγαί τε, καὶ ὀλοφύρσεις, χηρεῖαι, καὶ ὀρφανίαι, καὶ πενίαι, καὶ δυσκληρίαι, καὶ τ' ἄλλα μυρία καὶ δυσδιήγητα, σκότον καὶ τοῖς ζῶσιν ἐπάγοντα. [Ὁρᾶτε πηλίκον κακὸν ἡ παρακοή • ὥστε μὴ μόνον Θεὸν χωρίσαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοσούτων κακῶν περιστοιχίζειν.]
« Ethento me en lakkǭ katōtatǭ, en skoteinois, kai en skią thanatou . » Kai tauta tois en Babylōni diagein ēnankasmenois harmottei ta rhēmata, kai pasę̄ tōn anthrōpōn tę̄ physei. Ekeinoi te gar ponērois anthrōpois douleuontes odynēron bion ezōn ; kai hapantes anthrōpoi pantodapais meta tēn hamartian periepesan symphorais. Meta gar tēn parabasin tēs entolēs thanatos, kai penthos, kai dakrya, oimōgai te, kai olophyrseis, chēreiai, kai orphaniai, kai peniai, kai dysklēriai, kai t' alla myria kai dysdiēgēta, skoton kai tois zōsin epagonta. [Horate pēlikon kakon hē parakoē • hōste mē monon Theon chōrisai, alla kai tosoutōn kakōn peristoichizein.]
"They put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, and in the shadow of death." These words too fit those forced to live in Babylon, and all human nature. For those, serving wicked men, lived a painful life; and all men after the sin fell into misfortunes of every kind. For after the transgression of the commandment came death and mourning and tears, wailing and lamentation, widowhood and orphanhood, poverty and misfortune, and countless other things hard to describe, bringing darkness even on the living. [See how great an evil disobedience is: not only to separate from God, but to surround one with so many evils.]
Ps 88:6 (87:7 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Gen 3:17 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:6: the pit of darkness fits the exiles and all mankind, fallen into countless sorrows through disobedience.
- The final sentence is bracketed in Migne (opening bracket supplied), probably an addition from the catena.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (opening bracket lost in the OCR; stray letters (OCR)): καὶ ετ πενίαι → καὶ πενίαι; Ὁρᾶτε πηλίκον → [Ὁρᾶτε πηλίκον.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.7 (PG 80 80:1569; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-7). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-7
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.8PG 80 80:1569
· Ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ ἐπεστηρίχθη ὁ θυμός σου· καὶ πάντας τοὺς μετεωρισμούς σου ἐπήγαγες ἐπ᾿ ἐμέ. . Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος οὕτως · Ἐμοὶ ἐπείσφρησεν ὁ θυμός σου, καὶ ταῖς καταιγίσι σου ἐκάκωσάς με. Ἐπιμένεις, φησὶ, τιμωρούμενος, καὶ παντοδαπάς μοι συμφορῶν προσβολὰς ἐπιφέρων. Ἐκ μεταφορᾶς τῶν ναυαγούντων, καὶ πολλὰς μὲν κυμάτων προσβολὰς, πολλὰς δὲ ἀνέμων ἐμβολὰς δεχομένων.
; Ep᾿ eme epestērichthē ho thymos sou; kai pantas tous meteōrismous sou epēgages ep᾿ eme. . Ho de Symmachos houtōs ; Emoi epeisphrēsen ho thymos sou, kai tais kataigisi sou ekakōsas me. Epimeneis, phēsi, timōroumenos, kai pantodapas moi symphorōn prosbolas epipherōn. Ek metaphoras tōn nauagountōn, kai pollas men kymatōn prosbolas, pollas de anemōn embolas dechomenōn.
"Your anger leaned upon me, and you brought all your billows upon me." Symmachus has: "Your anger burst in upon me, and with your storms you afflicted me." "You persist in punishing," he says, "and bringing on me assaults of misfortunes of every kind." The figure is taken from the shipwrecked, who receive many assaults of waves and many blasts of wind.
Ps 88:7 (87:8 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:7: God's anger falls on the psalmist like storm waves on the shipwrecked.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.8 (PG 80 80:1569; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-8). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-8
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.9PG 80 80:1571
· Ἐμάκρυνας τοὺς γνωστούς μου. » Ἔρημός εἰμι, καὶ συνήθων, καὶ συγγενῶν· οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι δορυάλωτοι, τῆς δουλείας δεξάμενοι τὸν ζυγόν, ἐσκεδασμένοι, καὶ τῆς τῶν φίλων συγγενείας καὶ συνουσίας ἐστερημένοι, τὴν ἐντεῦθεν οὐκ εἶχον παραψυχήν. Πάντες δὲ ἄνθρωποι δυσσεβείᾳ συζῶντες τῆς παρὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων κηδεμονίας οὐ μετελάγχανον. « Ἔθεντό με βδέλυγμα ἑαυτοῖς·, τουτέστιν οἱ πολέμιοι. « Παρεδόθην, καὶ οὐκ ἐξεπορευόμην. » Τῶν ἐπικειμένων μοι κακῶν ἀπαλλαγὴν οὐδεμίαν εὑρίσκω.
; Emakrynas tous gnōstous mou. » Erēmos eimi, kai synēthōn, kai syngenōn; hoi men gar en Babylōni doryalōtoi, tēs douleias dexamenoi ton zygon, eskedasmenoi, kai tēs tōn philōn syngeneias kai synousias esterēmenoi, tēn enteuthen ouk eichon parapsychēn. Pantes de anthrōpoi dyssebeią syzōntes tēs para tōn angelōn kēdemonias ou metelanchanon. « Ethento me bdelygma heautois;, toutestin hoi polemioi. « Paredothēn, kai ouk exeporeuomēn. » Tōn epikeimenōn moi kakōn apallagēn oudemian heuriskō.
"You have put my acquaintances far from me." "I am bereft of friends and kin." For the captives in Babylon, having received the yoke of slavery, were scattered and deprived of the kinship and company of friends, and had no comfort from them; and all men living in impiety did not share the care of the angels. "They made me an abomination to themselves," that is, the enemies. "I was handed over and did not go out." "I find no release from the evils that lie on me."
Ps 88:8 (87:9 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:8: the captives, scattered from kin and friends, are loathed by their enemies and find no way out.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.9 (PG 80 80:1571; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-9). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-9
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.10PG 80 80:1571
« Οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἠσθένησαν ἀπὸ πτωχείας. 'Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος οὕτως. Ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐξέῤῥευσεν ἀπὸ τῆς κακώσεως . Εἰς δάκρυα γὰρ τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου κατεδαπάνησα, κλαίειν ὑπὸ τῆς ὀδύνης καταναγκαζόμενος . « Ἐκέκραξα πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν διεπέτασα πρὸς σὲ τὰς χεῖράς μου. » Ἕνα τοίνυν πόρον δὸς τῆς τῶν δεινῶν ἀπαλλαγῆς, τὴν σὴν, Δέσποτα, προμήθειαν · ἐκτείνων γὰρ ἀεὶ τὰς χεῖρας ἀντιβολῶ σε. Τὴν πικρὰν δὲ τῆς ψυχῆς ὀδύνην τοῦτο τὸ σχῆμα δηλοῖ. Ὑπὸ γὰρ τῆς χρείας ἀναγκαζόμενος σπουδαιότερόν τις οὕτως ἱκετεύει τὸν δοῦναι δυνάμενον.
« Hoi ophthalmoi mou ēsthenēsan apo ptōcheias. 'Ho de Symmachos houtōs. Ho ophthalmos mou exerrheusen apo tēs kakōseōs . Eis dakrya gar tous ophthalmous mou katedapanēsa, klaiein hypo tēs odynēs katanankazomenos . « Ekekraxa pros se, Kyrie, holēn tēn hēmeran diepetasa pros se tas cheiras mou. » Hena toinyn poron dos tēs tōn deinōn apallagēs, tēn sēn, Despota, promētheian ; ekteinōn gar aei tas cheiras antibolō se. Tēn pikran de tēs psychēs odynēn touto to schēma dēloi. Hypo gar tēs chreias anankazomenos spoudaioteron tis houtōs hiketeuei ton dounai dynamenon.
"My eyes grew weak from poverty." Symmachus has: "My eye wasted away from affliction." "For I spent my eyes in tears, forced by pain to weep." "I cried to you, Lord, all the day; I spread out my hands to you." "Give, then, one way of release from the terrible things, your providence, Master; for I always stretch out my hands and beg you." This posture shows the bitter pain of the soul; for one compelled by need begs more earnestly in this way the one who can give.
Ps 88:9 (87:10 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:9: the psalmist's eyes waste with weeping as he stretches out his hands to God all day.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slips): Ὁσι ὀφθαλμός μου ἐξέρῥευσεν → Ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου ἐξέῤῥευσεν.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.10 (PG 80 80:1571; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-10). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-10
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.11PG 80 80:1571
«Μὴ τοῖς νεκροῖς ποιήσεις θαυμάσια; ἢ ἰατροὶ ἀναστήσουσι, καὶ ἐξομολογήσονταί σοι; › Ἔτι μοι ζῶντι, φησὶ, τὴν σὴν δεῖξον θαυματουργίαν ἀποθανὼν γὰρ ταύτην οὐκ ὄψομαι. Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἰατρὸς ἀπαλλάξαι θανάτου δυνάμενος · ποῖον γὰρ φάρμακον ταύτην ἔχει τὴν δύναμιν;
«Mē tois nekrois poiēseis thaumasia? ē iatroi anastēsousi, kai exomologēsontai soi? › Eti moi zōnti, phēsi, tēn sēn deixon thaumatourgian apothanōn gar tautēn ouk opsomai. Ou gar estin iatros apallaxai thanatou dynamenos ; poion gar pharmakon tautēn echei tēn dynamin?
"Will you do wonders for the dead? Or will physicians raise them up, and will they confess you?" "Show me your wonder-working while I am still alive," he says; "for when I am dead I shall not see it. For there is no physician who can free from death; what drug has this power?"
Ps 88:10 (87:11 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:10: the psalmist asks for God's help while alive, since no physician raises the dead.
- "Physicians" follows the Septuagint (ἰατροί).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray letters (OCR)): ἰατροὶ δι ἀναστήσουσι → ἰατροὶ ἀναστήσουσι.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.11 (PG 80 80:1571; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-11). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-11
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.12PG 80 80:1571
« Μὴ διηγήσεταί τις ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τὸ ἔλεός σου, καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειάν σου, ἐν τῇ ἀπωλείᾳ ; » τουτἐστιν, οὐδεὶς διηγήσεται οὐδὲ ἐξομολογήσεται μετὰ τὴν ἐνθένδε ἐκδημίαν.
« Mē diēgēsetai tis en tǭ taphǭ to eleos sou, kai tēn alētheian sou, en tę̄ apōleią ? » toutestin, oudeis diēgēsetai oude exomologēsetai meta tēn enthende ekdēmian.
"Will anyone recount your mercy in the grave, and your truth in destruction?" That is, no one will recount or confess after departing from here.
Ps 88:11 (87:12 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:11: no one praises God's mercy from the grave.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.12 (PG 80 80:1571; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-12). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-12
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.13PG 80 80:1571
« Μὴ γνωσθήσεται ἐν τῷ σκότει τὰ θαυμάσιά σου, καὶ ἡ δικαιοσύνη σου ἐν γῇ ἐπιλελησμένη;» Μὴ δυνατὸν, φησὶ, τοὺς εἰς κόνιν διαλυθέντας νεκροὺς, καὶ ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τοῦ θανάτου διάγοντας, καὶ λήθῃ παραδεδομένους, τῆς σῆς αἰσθέσθαι φιλανθρωπίας, καὶ τῶν σῶν θαυμάτων θεατὰς καταστῆναι ; « Κἀγὼ πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ἐκέκραξα, καὶ τὸ πρωί ἡ προσευχή μου προφθάσει σε. › Ὁ δὲ Σύμμαχος οὕτως· Ἐμοῦ δὲ πρὸς σὲ, Κύριε, ἡ οἰμωγὴ, καὶ κατ' ὄρθρον ἡ προσευχή μου προφθάσει σε. Ἐπιθυμῶν γὰρ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ τῶν ἐπικειμένων ἀπαλλαγῆναι κακῶν, ὀδυνώμενος ποτνιῶμαι, καὶ φθάνω τῇ δεήσει τὸν ὄρθρον.
« Mē gnōsthēsetai en tǭ skotei ta thaumasia sou, kai hē dikaiosynē sou en gę̄ epilelēsmenē?» Mē dynaton, phēsi, tous eis konin dialythentas nekrous, kai en tǭ taphǭ tou thanatou diagontas, kai lēthę̄ paradedomenous, tēs sēs aisthesthai philanthrōpias, kai tōn sōn thaumatōn theatas katastēnai ? « Kagō pros se, Kyrie, ekekraxa, kai to prōi hē proseuchē mou prophthasei se. › Ho de Symmachos houtōs; Emou de pros se, Kyrie, hē oimōgē, kai kat' orthron hē proseuchē mou prophthasei se. Epithymōn gar en tę̄ zōę̄ tōn epikeimenōn apallagēnai kakōn, odynōmenos potniōmai, kai phthanō tę̄ deēsei ton orthron.
"Will your wonders be known in the darkness, and your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?" "Is it possible," he says, "for the dead, dissolved into dust, living in the grave of death and given to oblivion, to perceive your love for humankind and become spectators of your wonders?" "But I cried to you, Lord, and in the morning my prayer will come before you." Symmachus has: "But my wailing is to you, Lord, and at dawn my prayer will come before you." "For desiring to be freed in this life from the evils that lie on me, I implore in pain and anticipate the dawn with my petition."
Ps 88:12 (87:13 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 88:13 (87:14 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:12-13: since the dead cannot see God's wonders, the psalmist prays at dawn for deliverance in this life.
- A verse number and a stray bracket leaked into the text are removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray bracket (OCR); stray letters (OCR); verse number leaked into the text (OCR)): ἐν τῷ τάφῳ σε τοῦ θανάτου → ἐν τῷ τάφῳ τοῦ θανάτου; καταστῆναι ; ιδ'. « → καταστῆναι ; «; προφθάσει σε.] Ἐπιθυμῶν → προφθάσει σε. Ἐπιθυμῶν.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.13 (PG 80 80:1571; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-13). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-13
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.15PG 80 80:1573
« Ἱνατί, Κύριε, ἀπωθεῖς τὴν ψυχήν μου, ἀποστρέφεις τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ; » Τί δήποτε τοίνυν ἀποπέμπεις με, Δέσποτα · καὶ τῆς εὐμενείας οὐ μεταδίδως τῆς σῆς;
« Hinati, Kyrie, apōtheis tēn psychēn mou, apostrepheis to prosōpon sou ap᾿ emou? » Ti dēpote toinyn apopempeis me, Despota ; kai tēs eumeneias ou metadidōs tēs sēs?
"Why, Lord, do you thrust away my soul and turn your face away from me?" "Why then do you send me away, Master, and not give me a share of your favor?"
Ps 88:14 (87:15 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:14: the psalmist asks why God rejects him.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.15 (PG 80 80:1573; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-15). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-15
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.16PG 80 80:1573
« Πτωχός εἰμι ἐγὼ, καὶ ἐν κόποις ἐκ νεότητός μου. » Νεότης τοῦ μὲν Ἰσραὴλ, ἡ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἔξοδος · πάντων δὲ ἀνθρώπων ἡ μετὰ τὴν παράβασιν τῆς ἐντολῆς ἔξω τοῦ παραδείσου ζωή. Καὶ οὗτοι δὲ κἀκεῖνοι πάντα τὸν ἐν μέσῳ χρόνον ταλαιπωρούμενοι διετέλεσαν. « Ὑψωθεὶς δὲ ἐταπεινώθην, καὶ ἐξηπορήθην. » Οἵ τε γὰρ Ἰουδαῖοι μετὰ τὴν περιφάνειαν περιέπεσον τῇ δουλείᾳ· καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἡ φύσις, κατ' εἰκόνα θείαν γεγενημένη, καὶ τῆς ἐν παραδείσῳ ζωῆς ἠξιωμένη, μειζόνων ἐπιθυμήσασα, καὶ τῶν δεδωρημένων ἐξέπεσεν.
« Ptōchos eimi egō, kai en kopois ek neotētos mou. » Neotēs tou men Israēl, hē ex Aigyptou exodos ; pantōn de anthrōpōn hē meta tēn parabasin tēs entolēs exō tou paradeisou zōē. Kai houtoi de kakeinoi panta ton en mesǭ chronon talaipōroumenoi dietelesan. « Hypsōtheis de etapeinōthēn, kai exēporēthēn. » Hoi te gar Ioudaioi meta tēn periphaneian periepeson tę̄ douleią; kai tōn anthrōpōn hē physis, kat' eikona theian gegenēmenē, kai tēs en paradeisǭ zōēs ēxiōmenē, meizonōn epithymēsasa, kai tōn dedōrēmenōn exepesen.
"I am poor and in toils from my youth." Israel's youth is the exodus from Egypt; that of all men, the life outside paradise after the transgression of the commandment. And both these and those went on suffering hardship through all the time between. "Being exalted, I was humbled and in distress." For the Jews after their renown fell into slavery; and the nature of men, made according to the divine image and counted worthy of life in paradise, desiring greater things, fell even from what had been given.
Ps 88:15 (87:16 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Gen 1:27 (allusion, medium confidence) · Gen 3:23 (allusion, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:15: Israel since the exodus and mankind since Eden have suffered; both fell from honor into humiliation.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.16 (PG 80 80:1573; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-16). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-16
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.17PG 80 80:1573
Ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ διῆλθον αἱ ὀργαἱ σου, οἱ φοβερισμοί σου ἐξετάραξάν με. Ἐκύκλωσάν με ὡσεὶ ὕδωρ. » Πᾶσαν, φησὶν, ἐκίνησας κατ᾿ ἐμοῦ τὴν ὀργὴν, καὶ ταῖς φοβερωτάταις με διετάραξας τιμωρίαις, καὶ ταύταις καθάπερ ὕδασιν ὑποβρύχιόν με πεποίηκας. « "Ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν περιέσχον με ἅμα. • Ὑπὸ τούτων καθ' ἑκάστην περικλύζομαι τὴν ἡμέραν.
Ep᾿ eme diēlthon hai orgai sou, hoi phoberismoi sou exetaraxan me. Ekyklōsan me hōsei hydōr. » Pasan, phēsin, ekinēsas kat᾿ emou tēn orgēn, kai tais phoberōtatais me dietaraxas timōriais, kai tautais kathaper hydasin hypobrychion me pepoiēkas. « "Holēn tēn hēmeran perieschon me hama. • Hypo toutōn kath' hekastēn periklyzomai tēn hēmeran.
"Your wrath passed over me; your terrors troubled me. They surrounded me like water." "You set all your anger moving against me," he says, "and troubled me with the most fearful punishments, and with them, as with waters, you submerged me." "All the day they encompassed me together." "I am flooded by them every day."
Ps 88:16 (87:17 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Ps 88:17 (87:18 LXX) (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:16-17: God's wrath and terrors overwhelm the psalmist like a flood.
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.17 (PG 80 80:1573; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-17). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-17
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.
87.19PG 80 80:1573
« Ἐμάκρυνας ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ φίλον καὶ πλησίον, καὶ τοὺς γνωστούς μου ἀπὸ ταλαιπωρίας. » Τοσαύταις δὲ συμφοραῖς προσπαλαίων οὐδὲ τὴν ἀπὸ τῶν συνήθων ἔχω παραψυχήν, ἔρημος τῆς τούτων συνουσίας διὰ τῆς δουλείας ταλαιπωρίαν γενόμενος · ταῦτα δὲ οὐ μόνον Ἰουδαίοις ἥρμοττε λέγειν, οὐδὲ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις πρὸ τῆς τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἐπιφανείας, ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν τοῖς τὰ ὅμοια πάσχουσιν ἡ ἱκετεία προσφυὴς καὶ κατάλληλος · · Ὅσα γὰρ προεγράφη, κατὰ τὸν θεῖον Ἀπόστολον, εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν διδασκαλίαν προεγράφη, ἵνα διὰ τῆς ὑπομονῆς, καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως τῶν Γραφῶν, τὴν ἐλπίδα ἔχωμεν. »
« Emakrynas ap᾿ emou philon kai plēsion, kai tous gnōstous mou apo talaipōrias. » Tosautais de symphorais prospalaiōn oude tēn apo tōn synēthōn echō parapsychēn, erēmos tēs toutōn synousias dia tēs douleias talaipōrian genomenos ; tauta de ou monon Ioudaiois hērmotte legein, oude pasin anthrōpois pro tēs tou Sōtēros epiphaneias, alla kai nyn tois ta homoia paschousin hē hiketeia prosphyēs kai katallēlos ; ; Hosa gar proegraphē, kata ton theion Apostolon, eis tēn hēmeteran didaskalian proegraphē, hina dia tēs hypomonēs, kai tēs paraklēseōs tōn Graphōn, tēn elpida echōmen. »
"You put friend and neighbor far from me, and my acquaintances because of my misery." "Wrestling with so many misfortunes, I do not even have the comfort of my friends, bereft of their company through the hardship of slavery." These words suited not only the Jews, nor only all men before the Savior's appearing; but even now the supplication is natural and fitting for those who suffer similar things. "For whatever was written beforehand," according to the divine apostle, "was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
Ps 88:18 (87:19 LXX) (quotation, high confidence) · Rom 15:4 (quotation, high confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Psalm 88:18: bereft of friends, the psalmist laments; the prayer fits all who suffer, since Scripture was written for our instruction.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray letters (OCR)): ἥρμοττε το λέγειν → ἥρμοττε λέγειν.
Topics: Scripture and canon
Cite (SBL): Theodoret, Interp. Ps. 87.19 (PG 80 80:1573; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-19). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/theodoret-interpretatio-psalmos/87-19
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Translation: Translated by Claude (Opus) from the Greek as printed in Migne PG 80 (Bavarian State Library OCR); no public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Greek.