Harp-Song 133

A song of ascents by David

Behold!

What Good!

and

What Pleasance!

A family tree

of siblings

a nation living together!



As the good oil

on the head descending—

on the beard—

the beard of Aaron.

Falling down on

the collar

of his coat.



As the night mists

of Hermon fall

on the mountains of Zion—

because it was there that

Yahweh taught the blessing—

life into eternity.





This is another rendition of a psalm derived from the Hebrew Interlinear source online.

A couple of interesting notes: The word shbth, which is translated as “family tree,” is related to the word for the Sabbath— Shabbat. It also can mean “clan” or “tribe”; as well as “branch” or “a walking stick made from a tree-branch”.

The oil in the poem is the oil of anointing used to bless and consecrate a person for the service of God.

Also, there is a nice poetic alignment between ascent and descent; climbing up and raining down—

 both actions infused with the living blessing of God.