Psalm 115
| Psalm 115 | |
|---|---|
| "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory" | |
 Statue inWiniary, Pińczów County,Poland, with an inscription from Psalm 115:1 | |
| Other name |
|
| Language | Hebrew (original) |
| Psalm 115 | |
|---|---|
| Book | Book of Psalms |
| Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
| Category | Sifrei Emet |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 115is the 115th psalm of theBook of Psalms,beginning in English in theKing James Version:"Not unto us, O LORD,not unto us, but unto thy name give glory ". It is part of theEgyptian Hallelsequence in the fifth division of the Book of Psalms.
In the slightly differentnumbering systemin the GreekSeptuagintand the LatinVulgateversion of the Bible, this psalm forms the second part of Psalm 113, counted as verses 9–26 of Psalm 113, verses 1–8 beingPsalm 114in Hebrew numbering.[1]In Latin, that part is known as "Non nobis".[2]
According toAlexander Kirkpatrick,this psalm "was probably composed for use in the[Second] Templeservices after the Return fromBabylon",perhaps when the first flush of enthusiasm had died away, and the little community in Jerusalem realised how contemptibly weak it was in the eyes of its neighbours".[3]
The beginning has been used for inscriptions on buildings, such as theCa' Vendramin Calergi.Verse 16, "The earth has been given to the children of men", among others, motivatedJohn McConnellto createEarth Day.
Psalm 115 is used as a regular part ofJewish,Eastern Orthodox,Catholic,Lutheran,Anglicanand various Protestant liturgies. It has often been set to music, such as a setting in German byHeinrich Schützfor three four-part choirs of voices and instruments, and Bach's earlywedding cantataDer Herr denket an uns,BWV 196.During the Romantic period,Felix Mendelssohnset the psalm in German,Gustav Holstin English, and Albert Kellermann in Hebrew.
Text
[edit]Hebrew
[edit]The following table shows the Hebrew text[4][5]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic domain).
| Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | לֹ֤א לָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֗ה לֹ֫א־לָ֥נוּ כִּֽי־לְ֭שִׁמְךָ תֵּ֣ן כָּב֑וֹד עַל־חַ֝סְדְּךָ֗ עַל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃ | Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But unto Thy name give glory, For Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake. |
| 2 | לָ֭מָּה יֹאמְר֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם אַיֵּה־נָ֝֗א אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ | Wherefore should the nations say: 'Where is now their God?' |
| 3 | וֵאלֹהֵ֥ינוּ בַשָּׁמָ֑יִם כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־חָפֵ֣ץ עָשָֽׂה׃ | But our God is in the heavens; Whatsoever pleased Him He hath done. |
| 4 | עֲֽ֭צַבֵּיהֶם כֶּ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֑ב מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗ה יְדֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃ | Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. |
| 5 | פֶּֽה־לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֑רוּ עֵינַ֥יִם לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יִרְאֽוּ׃ | They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not; |
| 6 | אׇזְנַ֣יִם לָ֭הֶם וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמָ֑עוּ אַ֥ף לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יְרִיחֽוּן׃ | They have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not; |
| 7 | יְדֵיהֶ֤ם ׀ וְלֹ֬א יְמִישׁ֗וּן רַ֭גְלֵיהֶם וְלֹ֣א יְהַלֵּ֑כוּ לֹא־יֶ֝הְגּ֗וּ בִּגְרוֹנָֽם׃ | They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they with their throat.. |
| 8 | כְּ֭מוֹהֶם יִהְי֣וּ עֹשֵׂיהֶ֑ם כֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־בֹּטֵ֣חַ בָּהֶֽם׃ | They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them. |
| 9 | יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל בְּטַ֣ח בַּיהֹוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃ | O Israel, trust thou in the LORD! He is their help and their shield! |
| 10 | בֵּ֣ית אַ֭הֲרֹן בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהֹוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃ | O house of Aaron, trust ye in the LORD! He is their help and their shield! |
| 11 | יִרְאֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה בִּטְח֣וּ בַיהֹוָ֑ה עֶזְרָ֖ם וּמָגִנָּ֣ם הֽוּא׃ | Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. |
| 12 | יְהֹוָה֮ זְכָרָ֢נוּ יְבָ֫רֵ֥ךְ יְ֭בָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְ֝בָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־בֵּ֥ית אַהֲרֹֽן׃ | The LORD hath been mindful of us, He will bless— He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. |
| 13 | יְ֭בָרֵךְ יִרְאֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה הַ֝קְּטַנִּ֗ים עִם־הַגְּדֹלִֽים׃ | He will bless them that fear the LORD, Both small and great. |
| 14 | יֹסֵ֣ף יְהֹוָ֣ה עֲלֵיכֶ֑ם עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם וְעַל־בְּנֵיכֶֽם׃ | The LORD increase you more and more, You and your children. |
| 15 | בְּרוּכִ֣ים אַ֭תֶּם לַיהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃ | Blessed be ye of the LORD Who made heaven and earth. |
| 16 | הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם שָׁ֭מַיִם לַיהֹוָ֑ה וְ֝הָאָ֗רֶץ נָתַ֥ן לִבְנֵי־אָדָֽם׃ | The heavens are the heavens of the LORD; But the earth hath He given to the children of men. |
| 17 | לֹ֣א הַ֭מֵּתִים יְהַֽלְלוּ־יָ֑הּ וְ֝לֹ֗א כׇּל־יֹרְדֵ֥י דוּמָֽה׃ | The dead praise not the LORD, Neither any that go down into silence; |
| 18 | וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ ׀ נְבָ֘רֵ֤ךְ יָ֗הּ מֵעַתָּ֥ה וְעַד־עוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃ | But we will bless the LORD From this time forth and for ever. Hallelujah. |
Latin Bible version
[edit]Following is the Latin text of Psalm 115 (113b):[6]
| Verse | Latin |
|---|---|
| 1 | Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam super misericordia tua et veritate tua. |
| 2 | Quare dicent gentes: “Ubi est Deus eorum?”. |
| 3 | Deus autem noster in caelo; omnia, quaecumque voluit, fecit. |
| 4 | Simulacra gentium argentum et aurum, opera manuum hominum. |
| 5 | Os habent et non loquentur, oculos habent et non videbunt. |
| 6 | Aures habent et non audient, nares habent et non odorabunt. |
| 7 | Manus habent et non palpabunt, pedes habent et non ambulabunt; non clamabunt in gutture suo. |
| 8 | Similes illis erunt, qui faciunt ea, et omnes, qui confidunt in eis. |
| 9 | Domus Israel speravit in Domino: adiutorium eorum et scutum eorum est. |
| 10 | Domus Aaron speravit in Domino: adiutorium eorum et scutum eorum est. |
| 11 | Qui timent Dominum, speraverunt in Domino: adiutorium eorum et scutum eorum est. |
| 12 | Dominus memor fuit nostri et benedicet nobis: benedicet domui Israel, benedicet domui Aaron, |
| 13 | benedicet omnibus, qui timent Dominum, pusillis cum maioribus. |
| 14 | Adiciat Dominus super vos, super vos et super filios vestros. |
| 15 | Benedicti vos a Domino, qui fecit caelum et terram. |
| 16 | Caeli, caeli sunt Domino, terram autem dedit filiis hominum. |
| 17 | Non mortui laudabunt te, Domine, neque omnes, qui descendunt in silentium, |
| 18 | sed nos, qui vivimus, benedicimus Domino ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum. |
King James Version
[edit]- Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
- Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
- But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
- Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
- They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
- They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
- They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
- They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
- O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
- O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
- Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
- The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
- He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
- The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
- Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
- The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
- The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
- But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.
Uses
[edit]In Judaism
[edit]Psalm 115 is one of six psalms (113–118) of whichHallelis composed. On all days when Hallel is recited, this psalm is recited in its entirety, except onRosh Chodeshand the last six days ofPassover,when only verses 1–11 are recited.[7]Verse 18 is the final verse ofAshrei.[8]It is also recited by some Jews followingPsalm 126precedingBirkat Hamazon.[9]
In Christianity
[edit]The Latin hymn "Non nobis"is based on Psalm 115. Several clergymen chose the beginning for their motto as an expression of humility, including the Italian archbishopGiuseppe Siri[10]and the Filipino archbishopJosé S. Palma.[11]The first verse in Latin, "Non Nobis Domine" became the motto of theKnights Templar.[12][13]
Other uses
[edit]The beginning has been used for inscriptions on buildings, notably the VenetianCa' Vendramin Calergiwhich is even known by the Latin "Non Nobis Domine".[14]Psalm 113 in the Vulgate numbering is said to have been used as a memorial and thanksgiving byHenry Vafter theBattle of Agincourt:
The king… gathering his armie togither, gaue thanks to almightie God for so happie a victorie; causing his prelats and chapleins to sing this psalme: ‘In exitu Israel de Aegypto’: and commanded euerie man to kneele downe on the ground at this verse: ‘Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam’.[15]
Verse 16, "The earth has been given to the children of men", has been quoted by peace activistJohn McConnellas an inspiration to createEarth Day,as a call to preserve the Earth and share resources.[16]
Music
[edit]In his collectionPsalmen Davidsof psalms, hymns and motets,Heinrich Schützset Psalm 115 in German "Nicht uns, Herr", for three four-part choirs of voices and instruments, SWV 43.[17]Schütz also set a metric poem for theBecker Psalter,"Nicht uns, nicht uns, Herr, lieber Gott", SWV 213.[18]
Johann Sebastian Bach based his early wedding cantataDer Herr denket an uns,BWV 196,on verses 12 to 15 of Psalm 115 which speak of God's blessing especially for families.[19]
Joseph Haydnwrote a four-part setting of the first verse in Latin for choira cappellaas anoffertoryhymn, published byCarusin 2009.[20]In 1835,Felix Mendelssohnset Psalm 115 in German,Nicht unserm Namen, Herr,Op. 31, for soprano solo, SATB choir and orchestra.[21]Gustav Holstwrote a setting in English, "Not Unto Us, O Lord", for mixed chorus and organ or piano in the 1890s.[22]
Albert Kellermann included Psalm 115 in a collection ofSechs liturgische Psalmen(6 liturgical psalms) in 1913, setting them in Hebrew for choir, soloists and organ.[23]WhenSiegfried Matthuswrote the libretto to his operaJudith,based on Friedrich Hebbel'sJudithand premiered in 1985, he included verses from theOld Testamentincluding Psalm 115.[24]Gerald Cohenset the psalm in Hebrew forSATBchorus and piano in 1987.[25]
References
[edit]- ^See, for example,Psalm 113in theDouay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
- ^Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 113 (115)Archived2017-05-07 at theWayback Machinemedievalist.net
- ^Kirkpatrick, A. (1906),Cambridge Bible for Schools and Collegeson Psalm 115, accessed 22 May 2022
- ^"Psalms – Chapter 115".Mechon Mamre.
- ^"Psalms 115 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
- ^"LIBER V (Psalmi 107-150)".Vatican City.
- ^Scherman, Zlotowitz (2003).The Complete Artscroll Siddur,p. 635.
- ^The Complete Artscroll Siddur, p. 68
- ^The Complete Artscroll Siddur, p. 183
- ^Spiazzi, Raimondo:Il Cardinale Giuseppe Siri, Arcivescovo di Genova dal 1946 al 1987: la vita, l'insegnamento, l'eredità spirituale, le memorie(in Italian) Edizioni Studio Domenicano. 1990. p. 260. ISBN 978-8-87-094018-3
- ^Mayol, Ador Vincent S.:Book on Palma "a personal, Church narrative of faith"Cebu Daily News. 13 September 2015
- ^Associazione Cattolici d'Italia,Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam,templarstoday.org, accessed 22 May 2022
- ^Non Nobis Domineknightstemplar-wales.org
- ^Ca' Vendramin Calergi and the Wagner Museum: a symphony on the Grand Canalvisitvenezia.eu
- ^Holinshed,quoted by Verity inHenry V,p. 227 and in Kirkpatrick, A. (1906),Cambridge Bible for Schools and Collegeson Psalm 115, accessed 22 May 2022
- ^Swoboda, J. A., ed. (2014).Blood Cries Out: Pentecostals, Ecology, and the Groans of Creation.Wipf and Stock Publishers.p. 17.ISBN978-1-62-564462-6.
- ^Psalmen Davids sampt etlichen Moteten und Concerten, Op.2 (Schütz, Heinrich):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- ^Veen, Johan van:Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672) / Complete Works – Volume 15 / Becker-Psalter, Op. 5musicweb-international November 2017
- ^Dellal, Pamela."Bach Cantata BWV 196 – Translation".emmanuelmusic.org.
- ^Non nobis DomineCarus-Verlag2009
- ^Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke (MWV) von Ralf WehnerSächsische Akademie der Wissenschaften
- ^Gibbs, Alan (15 April 2020)."Not unto us O Lord"(PDF).Holst Newsletter(15). The Holst Society: 2.Retrieved13 April2021.
- ^Sechs liturgische Psalmen (Kellermann, Albert):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- ^Neef, Sigrid:Judith.In:Deutsche Oper im 20. Jahrhundert – DDR 1949–1989.(in German) Lang, Berlin 1992,ISBN3-86032-011-4,pp. 350–359.
- ^Compositions for chorus, with or without instrumental accompanimentgeraldcohenmusic
Bibliography
[edit]- Scherman, Nosson; Zlotowitz, Rabbi Meir (2003).The Complete Artscroll Siddur.ArtScroll Mesorah Series. Translated by Scherman, Nosson (3 ed.). Mesorah Pubn Ltd.ISBN978-0-89906-650-9.
External links
[edit]
- Pieces with text from Psalm 115:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 115:Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
- Psalms Chapter 115text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
- Text of Psalm 115 according to the1928 Psalter
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,Not to us, LORD, not to us / but to your name give glorytext and footnotes, usccb.org
- Psalm 115:1introduction and text, biblestudytools
- Psalm 115 – The LORD Our Help and Shieldenduringword
- Psalm 115 / Refrain: The Lord has been mindful of us and he will bless us.Church of England
- Psalm 115at biblegateway
- Charles Spurgeon:Psalm 115detailed commentary, archive.spurgeon.org
- "Hymns for Psalm 115".hymnary.org.