The similarities between Psalms 25 and 37 are investigated. This pertains to the vocabulary and expressions used in the two psalms, their alphabetic form, and the theological point of view expressed. It is argued that the similarities between them should be attributed to the fact that they were written at more or less the same time by the same group of persons. The authors considered Proverbs, the major prophets, and an early form of the Psalter as authoritative material containing the Torah of Yahweh, and held on to the conviction that righteousness in the form of humility, patience, doing what is right, and seeking shelter with Yahweh will be rewarded with eventual control over the Promised Land.

Psalm 119 (118) und seine Theologie, ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der anthologischen Stilgattung im Alten Testament

The Relationship between Psalms 25 and 37

Psalm 39 is a peculiar, late post-exilic wisdom composition which reflects the style of a supplication of a sick person, but actually rather constitutes a meditation on the transitoriness of human life. It has been neatly integrated into the conclusion of Book I of the Psalter by a late post-exilic redaction, but displays antithetic views with regard to expectations about retribution expressed in other psalms ostensibly from the same post-exilic era. This article explores its possible purpose in view of its form, its integration into Book I of the Psalter, and particularly its contrastive stance towards Pss 34 and 37. Its criticism of the doctrine of retribution renders it very similar to Ps 73 and the Book of Job, and the psalm is therefore compared to these texts as well.

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Psalm 39 and its Place in the Development of a Doctrine of Retribution in the Hebrew Bible

Psalm 53 is an adapted version of Ps 14, crafted to fit in among a cluster of psalms consisting of Pss 52–55. Each of these psalms is described in their respective headings as a “Maskil,” while Pss 52 and 54 each also have a biographical link to the time of persecution of David by Saul. It is argued that various contexts have to be taken into consideration for a full understanding of Ps 53: the differences between Pss 14 and 53; Ps 53’s links to the cluster of Pss 52–55; the connections it has with Proverbs, and the connections it has with the history of David in 1 Samuel via the two biographical notes in the cluster which seem to apply to it as well. When all these contexts are taken into consideration, Ps 53 appears to be an explication of certain texts in Proverbs, as if applying the truths of wisdom teaching to the experiences of David. A INTRODUCTION

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Psalm 53 in canonical perspective

The aim of this article is to analyze three difficult aspects of testimony in the Book of Psalms: (1) the term עדות‘ēdut in the titles of certain Psalms (Ps 60:1; 80:1); (2) understanding who or what is referred to as a witness in Ps 89:38; and (3) the proper translation of עדות ‘ēdut, and its meaning, in its multiple uses in Ps 119.  First, as background, the author synthetically depicts what the psalms say generally regarding the notion of testimony. Proceeding to the focal issues, he first analyzes עדות ‘ēdut in the titles of the two psalms and concludes that the term should be interpreted as an independent title and translated as “testimony”. The next section presents the current understandings of who or what is a witness in Ps 89:38 (rainbow, sun, moon, throne, God), and proposes a new messianic interpretation. In the final part, after the presentation of various translations, the author suggests interpreting עדות ‘ēdut in Psalm 119 as a technical term, properly translated in Psalm 119 always as “testimony”.

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Trzy intrygujące aspekty świadectwa w Psalmach

This chapter demonstrates that Psalm 19 serves as an important link merging the Torah theology of Psalm 119 with other wisdom literature from the Hebrew Bible. As such, the psalm can rightly be seen as a precursor for the teaching of Ben Sira. The first part of the chapter discusses some textual observations on Psalm 19 that investigate its literary unity and the underlying concept of Torah and wisdom. The second part focuses on the relationship between Psalm 19 and Psalm 119. It argues that Psalm 19 represents a sapiential exegesis of Psalm 119. The third part deals with the literary traces of Psalm 19 in the post-biblical wisdom of Ben Sira. Finally, the results allow for some concluding remarks, seeing Psalm 19 as part of an exegetical discussion that aims at understanding Torah in the framework of a sapiential worldview. Keywords: Ben Sira; Hebrew Bible; post-biblical wisdom; Psalm; sapiential exegesis; Torah

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Psalm 119 (118) und seine Theologie, ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der anthologischen Stilgattung im Alten Testament

Citations

The Relationship between Psalms 25 and 37

Psalm 39 and its Place in the Development of a Doctrine of Retribution in the Hebrew Bible

Psalm 53 in canonical perspective

Trzy intrygujące aspekty świadectwa w Psalmach

Half Way between Psalm 119 and Ben Sira: Wisdom and Torah in Psalm 19