Examining Psalm 83(84):6,7

One of the many tasks of a deacon in the EOTC tradition is to study the Psalms of David. Every Sunday (Christian Sabbath), and indeed every day, is assigned a portion of the Psalms in the EOTC's lectionary. Tomorrow (Sunday January 22, 2017 A.D.), we find Psalm 83(84):6,7 assigned...

Ge'ez

እስመ ፡ መምህረሕግ ፡ ይሁብ ፡ በረከተ
ወየሐውር ፡ እምኀይል ፡ ውስተ ፡ ኀይል
ወያስተርኢ ፡ አምላከአማልክት ፡ በጽዮን ።

My English translation of the Ge'ez

the teacher of the law will give blessings
and go from strength to strength
and the God of gods will be seen in Zion 

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

they make it a place of springs
the early rain also covers it with pools
they go from strength to strength
the God of gods will be seen in Zion

The RSV is based on the Hebrew of the post-Christian Masoretic Text. The Ge'ez is based on the Greek of the Septuagint which is a pre-Christian translation from Hebrew to Greek. There is clearly a difference here. I don't have the expertise to tell you why one is better or if one is better.

My task today is to point out the difference and offer the above brief explanation as to why the words may seem incongruent to someone checking them out with the bibles they have available. Also, there may be the added confusion of numbering. From Psalm 10 onwards, the Septuagint numbering is one behind the Masoretic numbering.

Furthermore, we must love each other.

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