nob tlho' Daq joH'a' tlhej the lyre. bom praises Daq ghaH tlhej the harp vo' wa'maH strings.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. psalm 33:2
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. psalm 33:2
Whatever you might think about Klingons being warlike and brusque - they DO know how to say "Thank you" - it's qatlho'. And sometimes it seems that's more than some humans know.
Matthew Henry notes about this psalm
What's the difference between saying "thank you" and sending a "thank you" card? Don't both communicate gratitude? Both are better than nothing - ask the friend or relation who gave generously and received no response whatsoever. Certainly they would be far happier with SOMETHING, some acknowledgment.
And yet....
As a command, the psalmist is pushing us beyond a simple word telling us that a thank you "note" (or song) is exactly what we should present to the LORD for all his presents to us. Maybe we need to do a bit more - maybe we need some skill.
The word "harp" here, in Hebrew is kinnowr, a word (from a root meaning to twang) that appears dozens of times in the Bible. We don't have a word for that in Klingon, though I might use Supghew a Klingon word for a stringed musical instrument (actually the roots "Sup" to jump, and "ghew," bug, suggest a lively instrument like the Ukelele, whose name means "jumping flea"). The harp (or a ukelele, or a guitar) are instruments that require skill, that require thoughtful instruction and learning before one can even raise a simple song. To be advised to lift up our harp - or Supghew - is to be advised to think, and plan how we will praise and thank our creator for the goodness of creation.
How about you? Do you send a thank you note when you receive a gift? Do you take time to think about how you will acknowledge what you have received. No, I don't expect we'll all take up harps or banjos or zithers - but we should take the time to reflect on what God has done for us, to take time to do more than just mouth a simple "thank you." Are you grateful? Then sing out with praise!
Matthew Henry notes about this psalm
What a pity it is that this earth, which is so full of the proofs and instances of God's goodness, should be so empty of his praises; and that of the multitudes who live upon his bounty, there are so few who live to his glory!
What's the difference between saying "thank you" and sending a "thank you" card? Don't both communicate gratitude? Both are better than nothing - ask the friend or relation who gave generously and received no response whatsoever. Certainly they would be far happier with SOMETHING, some acknowledgment.
And yet....
As a command, the psalmist is pushing us beyond a simple word telling us that a thank you "note" (or song) is exactly what we should present to the LORD for all his presents to us. Maybe we need to do a bit more - maybe we need some skill.
The word "harp" here, in Hebrew is kinnowr, a word (from a root meaning to twang) that appears dozens of times in the Bible. We don't have a word for that in Klingon, though I might use Supghew a Klingon word for a stringed musical instrument (actually the roots "Sup" to jump, and "ghew," bug, suggest a lively instrument like the Ukelele, whose name means "jumping flea"). The harp (or a ukelele, or a guitar) are instruments that require skill, that require thoughtful instruction and learning before one can even raise a simple song. To be advised to lift up our harp - or Supghew - is to be advised to think, and plan how we will praise and thank our creator for the goodness of creation.
How about you? Do you send a thank you note when you receive a gift? Do you take time to think about how you will acknowledge what you have received. No, I don't expect we'll all take up harps or banjos or zithers - but we should take the time to reflect on what God has done for us, to take time to do more than just mouth a simple "thank you." Are you grateful? Then sing out with praise!
nob tlho' Daq joH'a' tlhej the lyre. bom praises Daq ghaH tlhej the harp vo' wa'maH strings.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. psalm 33:2
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. psalm 33:2
1 comment:
happy to have found you after 2 years or so! Serendipity!
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