Ps 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.1
Create in me & Have thine own way2.
לֵב טָהור [A pure heart] in Hebrew3.
ܪܲܚܸܡܥܠܲܝ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܛܲܝܒ̇ܘܼܬ̣ܵܟ݂ [Have mercy on me, O God] in Syriac4.
We are leaving Bethlehem, and being guided by faint traces, we are heading to the north towards Syrian Antioch, one cradle of Christianity. The presented below excerpt5 comes from the homily6 opening of the collection of 13 works attributed to John Chrysostom7. This homily begins by explaining the meaning of Psalms in Christian life and then continues about sin and penance, analyzing Dawid’s case (Ps 51). It focuses on the inner cause of sin and the road to repentance, i.e., unceasing crying to God and categorical rejection of any doubts ending with reconciliation of the sinner with God. The structure of this homily with many quotations gives an impression of summoned figures addressed to the reader, forcing him to take part in their spiritual struggles. Such is the power of expression of this minor masterpiece of penitential homiletics!
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| The prophet Nathan rebukes king David by Eugène Siberdt c. 1851–19318. |
If we keep vigil, in the Church, David comes first, last, and midst. If early in the morning we seek for the melody of hymns, first, last, and midst is David again. If we are occupied with the funeral solemnities of the departed, if virgins sit at home and spin, David is first, last, and midst. O marvellous wonder! Many who have made but little progress in literature, nay, who have scarcely mastered its first principles, have the Psalter by heart. Nor is it in cities and churches alone that at all times, through every age, David is illustrious; in the midst of the forum, in the wilderness, and uninhabitable land, he excites the praises of GOD. In monasteries, amongst those holy choirs of angelic armies, David is first, midst, and last. In the convents of virgins, where are the bands of them that imitate Mary; in the deserts, where are men crucified to this world, and having their conversation with GOD, first, midst, and last is he. All other men are at night overpowered by natural sleep: David alone is active; and, congregating the servants of GOD into seraphic bands, turns earth into heaven, and converts men into angels.
John Chrysostom spent most of his life in Syria (ca. 347 - 397 CE), serving first as a deacon and later as an elder. His works include nine penitential homilies9 delivered sometime between 386 and 387 CE. Critical moments of his life, such as the fight against Empress Eudoxia (‘raging Herodias’) were accurately presented in one of the contemporary homilies10.
Notes
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton: Crossway Bibles. I’m adopting this translation because of its charm, simplicity, and popularity in musical performances. However, it’s more likely that originally the psalmist wanted to express another nuance. According to TWOT the range of meanings of the verb כּוּן “move from provision through preparation and establishment to fixity and rightness”. In the cultic context of the OT preparation is the first step to encounter God. Thus, the idea of a tentatively prepared spirit fits better into the image of the sinner who rises from the fall and prepares to meet God, asking Him for renewal and healing. Taking this into account, one could translate this verse as follows: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a ready (or prepared) spirit within me.” For comparison see also Ps 108:1 נָכֹון לִבִּי אֱלֹהִים, which can be understood as “My heart is ready/prepared, O God!” While almost all translations focus on the idea of spirit steadfastness or uprightness a unique translation is found in TgPs, artistically appealing and dynamic. In the first part, the expression טָהוֹר בְּרָא “create pure” is translated through a pun בריר ברי, while in the second part, the interpretation of the רוּחַ נָכוֹן is made as רוח מכוון בדחלתך “a spirit inclined to fear/revere You”, which best captures the essence of repentance. On the other hand, the fear of God gives the believer a firm foundation and confidence, as it’s expressed in Pr 14:26.
[2] Sounds like reign. 2020. Create in me. [accessed 2022 Jan 22]. YouTube.
[3] Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel. 2020. לֵב טָהור [A pure heart]. (Praises of Israel). [accessed 2024 Feb 5]. YouTube.
[4] Bit-Kharibi S. 2023. ܪܲܚܸܡܥܠܲܝ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܝܟ݂ ܛܲܝܒ̇ܘܼܬ̣ܵܟ݂ [Have mercy on me, O God]. [accessed 2024 Feb 5]. YouTube.
[5] Translation from: Neale JM. 1869. A commentary on the Psalms: from primitive and mediaeval writers and from the various office books and hymns of the Roman, Mozarabic, Ambrosian, Gallican, Greek, Coptic, Armenian, and Syrian rites. Vol. I Psalm 1 to Psalm 38. Second edition. London; New York: Joseph Masters; Pott and Amery. p. 1-2.
[6] Pseudo-Chrysostom. 1860. De paenitentia et in lectionem de Davide et de uxore Uriae [Περὶ μετανοίας, καὶ εἰς τὸ ἀνάγνωσμα τοῦ ∆αυῒδ περὶ τῆς τοῦ Οὐρίου]. In: Migne J-P, editor. S. Joannes Chrysostomus, Meletius Monachus. Paris: publisher not identified. (Patrologia graeca; vol. 64). p. 11–16.
[7] de Aldama JA. 1965. Repertorium pseudochrysostomicum. Paris: Éditions du Centre national de la recherche scientifique. (Documents, études et répertoires - Institut de recherche et d’histoire des textes; vol. 10). No. 194; Geerard M. 1974. Clavis Patrum Graecorum. Volumen II: Ab Athanasio ad Chrysostomum. Turnhout: Brepols. (Corpus christianorum). No. 4694.
[8] Siberdt E. The prophet Nathan rebukes king David. c. 1851–1931. [accessed 2020 Dec 19]. Wikimedia Commons.
[9] John Chrysostom. 1998. On repentance and almsgiving. Christo GG, translator. Washington: Catholic University of America Press. (The Fathers of the church. A new translation; vol. 96).
[10] Nicholas of Amissos. 2007. The last words of St. John Chrysostom. A homily on the 1600th anniversary of the repose of St. John Chrysostom - November 26, 2007. American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America. [accessed 2020 Nov 15]. Homilies & Addresses.
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