Psalm Vol. 1 - College Press

THE PSALMS AS LYRICS
and yet makes a true balance to the corresponding term of the
preceding line, we get all the charm of freshness and change.
The dullest ear will perceive the rise and fall, the wave-like
motion, which is essential to musical rhythm. Each sentence is
contained in a line and ends with it. In other languages a fixed
reburrenee lof feet or rhymed syllables would mark the conclu-
sion of th’e verse. Here voice and sense pause together, and the
ear is satisfied with this natural cadence, which .is doubtless
improved in the original by the equality of the words in the two
parts of the verse.”
In this example, two things will be observed: First, that the
word-group beats are three to a line, rendering this a “trimeter”
oouplet; and second, that the equivalence of the sense in the ~wo
libes makes this a “synonymous” souplet-as to form, “trimeter” ;
asrto sense, “synonymous.” It may be seen in quotations from
ancient Church writers in Julian’s Dictionary of Hymnology
that the “ancient trimeters” were still famous in sub-apostolic
times. It is, in fact, the favorite measure employed in the Psalms;
doubtless owing to the prevailing joyousness of the songs of
Zion, and the ease with which this simple measure dances along
in the expression of sacred gladness. From the “trimeters” as a
starting-point, the reader can easily conceive how more stately
tetrameters, and more pensive pentameters would be formed by
the simple contrivance of running the word-groups into longer
lines. It is, for example, partly ‘by the lingering meditativeness
of Ps, 119 that any reader can easily see how the second half
of Ps. 19 closely f801110ws it,
11. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PSALMS AS \LYRICS
(A) As our subsequent ohapters will, in various ways, keep
these characteristics well before us, we need not attempt more
at present than to observe how far they are indicated by the
descriptions which are found in superscribed lines. These may
be arranged in the ascending order of their frequency.
(1) Tehillah, “praise”: title #of 145-a psalm mtost wbrthy of
the title, since it is purely and only “praise.” From
this, the whole book is named in Heb., Tehillim,
“Praises.”
(2) Shiggayon, prob. ‘(a discursive psalm” (title of PB. 71,
from sh-g-hJ “to go astray.” According to some: (‘a
25