God Didn't Say That

Translating an Ancient Hebrew Prayer of Thanks from the Dead Sea Scrolls

As I’ve said, I’m devoting most of my energy for the next little while to “The Unabridged Bible,” which will gradually start officially rolling out soon.

In the meantime, readers here may enjoy my translations of the Dead Sea Scrolls on that site because of my copious translation notes, and because the passages frequently quote the Bible.

Here’s part of one I added today, from 1QH, the scroll of “thanksgiving hymns”:

I offer thanks to you² Lord, for your eye stood guard³ over me and you saved my soul⁴ from the zeal of those who spread lies, and from the community of those who seek rumors. You redeemed⁵ this downtrodden one⁶ whom they conspired to finish off⁷ by pouring out his blood on account of his service to you. It failed because they did not know that my steps come from you.⁸ They made me a mockery⁹…

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January 13, 2014 - Posted by Joel H. | translation practice | Dead Sea Scrolls, Hebrew, Hebrew grammar, The Unabridged Bible, translation