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In die Skriflig

On-line version ISSN 2305-0853
Print version ISSN 1018-6441

In Skriflig (Online) vol.43 n.3 Pretoria Jan. 2009

 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Psalm 137 en die beryming van wraakpsalms

 

Psalm 137 and metrical versions of imprecatory psalms

 

 

H.F. van Rooy

Skool vir Bybelwetenskappe en Antieke Tale, Potchefstroomkampus. Noordwes-Universiteit. Potchefstroom. E-pos: Herrie.vanRooy@nwu.ac.za

 

 


OPSOMMING

In hierdie artikel word sewe berymings van die wraakgedeelte van Psalm 137 bespreek, twee Nederlandse (1773 en 1968), twee Engelse (in die "Psalter hymnal" van die Christian Reformed Church en in "Sing psalms" van die Free Church of Scotland) en drie Afrikaanse weergawes (J.D. du Toit, T.T. Cloete en Lina Spies), om te let op die wyse waarop die problematiese wraakgedeelte weergegee is. Dit word gedoen teen die agtergrond van die bestudering van Psalm 137, en in besonder die wraakgedeelte daarvan. In die literatuur is daar besware teen die beryming van sodanige wraakpsalms vir gebruik in die kerk, maar ook besware teen die weglating of versagting in die weergawes van Cloete en Spies. Dit blyk dat die keuse van melodie, die hoeveelheid strofes wat gebruik word en die indeling van die stof in strofes 'n belangrike rol speel in die bepaling van die meeste weglatings en byvoegings in die berymings. Dit is duidelik dat almal van hulle erns gemaak het met die wraakgedeelte. Uitbreidings en weglatings kan in die meeste gevalle toegeskryf word aan die keuses hierbo genoem, en nie aan doelbewuste veranderings nie. Die weergawe van Spies toon wel een doelbewuste versagting, heel aan die einde van die beryming.


ABSTRACT

This article discusses seven metrical versions of the imprecatory section of Psalm 137, two in Dutch (1773 and 1968), two in English (in the "Psalter hymnal" of the Christian Reformed Church and in "Sing psalms" of the Free Church of Scotland) and three Afrikaans versions (J.D. du Toit, T.T. Cloete and Lina Spies), looking at the way in which these versions treated this section. This is done in the light of recent research on Psalm 137, and especially the imprecatory section. In the literature questions are asked about the singing of this kind of psalm in the church, but also about the omission or softening of this part of Psalm 137 in the versions of Cloete and Spies. The choice of melody, the number of strophes used and the division of the contents of the psalm in strophes play an important role in determining most of the omissions or alleviations in the metrical versions. All seven the versions discussed took the imprecatory section seriously. The problems raised against these versions can be ascribed to these choices, and not to a deliberate attempt to circumvent the problem of such an imprecatory section. The version of Spies is the only exception, with the omission of the last line of the psalm.


 

 

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Geraadpleegde bronne

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