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Scrolls From the Dead Sea
The Ancient Library of Qumran and Modern Schlorship
The Psalms Scroll: Translation
Column 19: Plea for Deliverance (A Noncanonical Psalm)
1. Surely a maggot cannot praise thee nor a grave worm recount
thy loving-kindness.
2. But the living can praise thee, even those who stumble can
laud thee. In revealing
3. thy kindness to them and by thy righteousness thou dost
enlighten them. For in thy hand is the soul of every
4. living thing; the breath of all flesh hast thou given. Deal
with us, O LORD,
5. according to thy goodness, according to thy great mercy, and
according to thy many righteous deeds. The LORD
6. has heeded the voice of those who love his name and has not
deprived them of his loving-kindness.
7. Blessed be the LORD, who executes righteous deeds, crowning
his saints
8. with loving-kindness and mercy. My soul cries out to praise
thy name, to sing high praises
9. for thy loving deeds, to proclaim thy faithfulness--of praise
of thee there is no end. Near death
10. was I for my sins, and my iniquities have sold me to the
grave; but thou didst save me,
11. O LORD, according to thy great mercy, and according to thy
many righteous deeds. Indeed have I
12. loved thy name, and in thy protection have I found refuge.
When I remember thy might my heart
13. is brave, and upon thy mercies do I lean. Forgive my sin, O
LORD,
14. and purify me from my iniquity. Vouchsafe me a spirit of
faith and knowledge, and let me not be dishonored
15. in ruin. Let not Satan rule over me, nor an unclean spirit;
neither let pain nor the evil
16. inclination take possession of my bones. For thou, O LORD,
art my praise, and in thee do I hope
17. all the day. Let my brothers rejoice with me and the house of
my father, who are astonished by the graciousness...
18. [ ] For e[ver] I will rejoice in thee.
Transcription and translation by J. A. Sanders
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Comments: lcweb@loc.gov
(3/20/96)