Signals Intelligence

jIH SaQ Daq joH'a' tlhej wIj ghogh, je ghaH answers jIH pa' vo' Daj le' HuD.

I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

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On the planet where I live, a recent news item concerns a scientific study of prayer - perhaps this news has reached your world as well. It's of interest to me because I would always a encourage study (AND USE) of prayer - I've even writen some programs to assist dedicated prayer warriors (prayer.mrklingon.org, justpray.mrklingon.org).

Now some find the current report distressing as it suggests that prayer - at least in the precise definitions of the study - did not assist healing (or even seemed to slow it!). Yet, this shouldn't be too surprising - it was a very narrowly focussed study, and only proved something most believer should know: Prayer isn't magic - As Easton's Bible Dictionary describes it:

Prayer is [conversation] with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant... or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1Sa 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2Ch 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph 3:14).

Those who pray are part of a personal conversation that assumes an ongoing relationship - and it ought not be surprising this is hard to measure.

In this verse we hear prayer expressed in the word "cry." This is SaQ in Klingon - an uncommon word, which we don't see often. (It may mean "to weep" - the dictionary isn't clear.) The Hebrew word qara' (kaw-raw') is very common - nearly 700 times in the bible. It is a primitive root meaning simply "to call out." This may be closer to the Klingon word jach which means "scream, cry out, shout, yell"

The idea is clear - a call, communication, is made for help. And equally clear, "he answers me out of his holy hill" - God will respond. In this case it is clear that the response is help - but despite the strong Biblical promise of answered prayer - we should know that this is no magic wand. As Paul reminds when he speaks of seeking - and not receiving healing:

[God] has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. (2Cor 12:9)

But why can't a scientist measure the effectiveness of prayer? A Klingon might put this in military terms (of course - what WOULDN'T they put in military terms?). It's a matter of "SIGINT" signals intelligence - intelligence information gathered from communications intelligence or electronics intelligence or telemetry intelligence.

Traditionally SIGINT is gathered, and if possible deciphered to gain information about one's enemies plans. BUT, when one is not able to understand the messages "Traffic Analysis" is used: In a military context, traffic analysis is usually performed by a signals intelligence agency, and can be a source of information about the intentions and actions of the enemy (Wikipedia) by observing the patterns of communication, even without being able to discern the meaning.

We can't see the prayers and the responses over the years of the faithful - but no one can deny that believers in every age have relied on prayer to, as Paul put it:

by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

And the reason to do this is NOT to get exactly what we ask for, but reading the full verse we see that prayer establishes a relationship of trust:

IN NOTHING BE ANXIOUS, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)


In terms of traffic analysis we can see, over the eons that believers have indeed found prayer a means of pouring out their hearts to God - and that over the centuries prayer has been foundational to a life of faith.

jIH SaQ Daq joH'a' tlhej wIj ghogh, je ghaH answers jIH pa' vo' Daj le' HuD.

I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Psalm 3:4

Cry out to Him today. He will answer.

Shield's Up!

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'ach SoH, joH'a', 'oH a yoD around jIH, wIj batlh, je the wa' 'Iv lifts Dung wIj nach.


But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:3

At last David names in this verse the source of his hope - God is his shield!

What do you think of when you hear the word "shield?" Do you see a knight or Viking holding up a shield to deflect sword and spear? Or maybe you think of Klingons on a starship with shimmering energy fields to protect them.

In either case you would be considering the job of such tools - defensive devices to keep the enemy at a distance.

Natural as that is - the Biblical idea goes far beyond a mere barrier.

The Klingon word here is yoD. Like our English "shield" it is both a noun and a verb so you can say QayoD - I shield you, or yoD vIghaj - I have a shield.

The Hebrew word is magen (maw-gane') and appears 60 times in the Bible. It is what is called a mem formation noun, formed from adding the letter "mem" to the verb ganan (gaw-nan') (to hedge or protect). You may have heard this term in "Magen David," the Hebrew name for what is called "the Star of David" For years this has been the symbol of Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service, a Red Star of David, or in Hebrew ha-Magen David Adom.

This is, in fact, this verse's subject: David's shield. Not a means of mere physical protection, but the source of a real, life-giving relationship - God himself, the one who saves him.

And that living shield is not a tool, but a person who cares for us! Other Psalms elaborate on this shield:

Our soul has waited for the LORD. He is our help and our shield. (Psalm 33:20)

For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly. (Psalm 84:11)

What constitutes "the shield" in your life? Is it money, your job or possessions? Do you count on strong locks or weapons to keep you safe? As king of Israel, David certainly had arms enough and wealth enough - yet, as this Psalm dramatizes, even he fled for his life in time of trouble. At that desperate time he remembered again - as we need to remember - that our real hope, our best shield is in the LORD.

The book of Proverbs reminds us:

"Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him."

nuq yoDlIj? What is your shield? Better would be to say 'Iv yoDlI', who is your shield - for when it is the LORD, you will be shielded indeed!

QaH! I need somebody!

law' pa' 'oH 'Iv jatlh vo' wIj qa', " pa' ghaH ghobe' QaH vaD ghaH Daq
joH'a'."

Many there are who say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God."
Psalm 3:2

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David's words here come from a desperate time - a time when he was in need of help. And his observation is that those watching him would conclude "QaH vaD ghaH Daq joH'a'" "There is no help for him in God.".

Help, or QaH in Klingon, is our word to consider here.

Maybe you are surprised that Klingons, though rugged and independant, DO have a word for help. You can hear it in the expression:

nom QaH yIqem - "Get help quickly!"

Though "Conversational Klingon" advises " what Terrans consider dangerous and unpleasant a Klingon usually finds exhilarating and enjoyable. So, if no ­one comes to your aid at first, shout out the phrase:

tlhIngan jIHbe' - "I am not a Klingon."

"QaH vaD ghaH Daq joH'a'" "There is no help for him in God.".

The Hebrew word here is a familiar one (in different forms it occurs over 250 timse in the Bible), yeshuw`ah (yesh-oo'-aw) - it means something saved, or deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help, salvation, and save, among other things. We can recognize it in the name Joshua or Jesus - "The LORD saves"

David's situation is dire - and when he echoes the verdict about his plight, he means more than "assistance is not coming" - everyone says he is utterly lost. And it seems clear that this is the majority opinion.

In these first two verses of Psalm 3, David says twice how "MANY" "rise up against" and "many say of" his soul that there is no hope. The Klingon word for this, law' calls to mind a construction Klingons use to express comparisons with two statements "x is law' / y is puS" to show how x is greater or superiour to y. For example,

'IwwIj jeD law' 'IwlIj jeD puS.

Means literally "My blood is thicker than yours," but expresses 'I am much stronger than you.' In this passage, one might feel that David would think

jaghpu' law' QaHwIj puS

(my enemies are greater than my help). Certainly this is an experience that many can understand - the trials and difficulties of life can seem overwhelming. But, as one writer observes, "note that trouble drives David to God in prayer, not from Him in disbelief. ("New Bible Commentary")

I think David would rather say

joH'a' QaH law' Hoch jaghpu'wI' puS - God's help is greater than my enemies!

In the scriptures we gain a context, a vision of the fabric of God's care and his plans - a vision that lifts us above the immediate situation. David, and we, may have uncountable enemies or troubles, but God is so much greater than them all! It's David's gift to us in the this psalm to remind us, where do you find help? nuqDaq QaH? It is with the LORD - let us never forget that!

No Enemy is Boring

joH'a', chay' wIj jaghpu' ghaj increased! law' 'oH chaH 'Iv Hu' Dung Daq jIH.

O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. Psalm3.1

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The Klingons have an enigmatic saying: Dal pagh jagh - No enemy is boring.
It isn't clear (I think deliberately) whether they mean the lack of an enemy is dull, or that all enemies are of interest. I'd bet that most Klingons would heartily agree with both sentiments.

David might also agree - certainly this Psalm reflects a time when David was far from bored - when he was pursued by many enemies - led by his own son!

The Bible *is* an incredible book. I know that for some that means "not credible" - they doubt the truth of what scriptures present. Yet in this psalm we find evidence of how breathtakingly honest a book it is.

Consider what we learn from the Bible. Unlike most of us, it doesn't flinch from telling the whole story. We know that David murdered a man to steal his wife (after committing adultery WITH her), that Abraham practically gave his own wife away due to his cowardice, that Peter denied he even knew Jesus, and that the disciples cut and ran when Jesus was taken off to be crucified! This is not a book that covers up the truth.

The enemies David fears in this psalm don't come from afar - these words reflect the time that David's son Absalom was in rebellion and that David was on the run - he was surrounded by enemies - thousands if we take the words here literally. David was in desparate straits!

At the end of his rope, David turns from the many enemies (those who trouble him - the word here is related to the word for eneimes in Psalm 23's "in the presence of my enemies") to the ONE who can turn things around for him - the LORD.

How often do you find yourself immersed in trouble? Whether or not it is so dramatic, you may know what it is to be feeling, like David, as if you are surrounded at all sides by people and things that - once close who have now turned against you. It certainly isn't foolish to be worried.

But David knew - and if we listen to him, we do too - that he can call for help from the LORD. Not because we deserve it - but because God has made promise after promise to those who will turn to him.

As we read in Isaiah -

Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed
and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and
shall perish. You will seek them, and won't find them, even those who
contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a
non-existent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right
hand, saying to you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.' Isaiah 41:11-13

I agree with the Klingons Dal pagh jagh - No enemy is boring, but better is knowing that nep pagh joH'a' laytaHghach - no promise of God is false.

The Path of Life

SoH DichDaq cha' jIH the path vo' yIn. Daq lIj Daq ghaH fullness vo' Quch. Daq lIj nIH ghop pa' 'oH pleasures forevermore.

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

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Because most humans don't have starships, we find other ways to explore distant solar systems. Astronomers have come up with many creative ways to study and evaluate impossibly remote locations - we've used their techniques, for example, to discover planets - before we can even see them! And today we use their methods to hunt for what Klingons would call yInroH - life signs. Signs the psalmist sees as well.

David delares that the Lord shows him the path of "yIn" - life. In Hebrew, the word is chayim, a familiar word from the toast "L'Chaiim" and the jewelry that uses the shorter form "chai" made up of the two letters het and yod. This word for "life" occurs over 450 times in the Bible.

The New Bible Dictionary says that, in scripture

"life ... is associated with light, gladness, fullness, order and active being... and contrasted with the darkness, sorrow, emptiness, chaos, and silence which are charecteristic of death..."

Indeed, David, by speaking of a path of life, suggests that there are some other path, perhaps like the book of Proverbs describes: "There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

The astronomers who hunt for yInroH, life signs, in the universe talk of something I think of that is like the path of life: "the habitable zone." You see, depending on how powerful a star is, you can easily identify the orbital region that is "just right" for life as we know it. Too close or too far from the sun and life has no chance. If a planet's orbit is like Goldilock's porridge - neither too hot or too cold - then that world is in the "path of life" for that star.

We're not planets. The path we find for ourselves is not an orbit. It's the result of choices made - by us, by family, by friends.

And David tells us - the path we choose can be one that the LORD shows us - a path that leads to life - not just in the here and now, but a path into life, forever.

As it says in Proverbs:

But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day. (4:18)

Looking for yInroH - signs of life? There's someone ready, right now - to show you where to find it! Ask him today!

"To Shine Like Stars Forever"

vaD SoH DichDaq ghobe' mej wIj qa' Daq Sheol, ghobe' DichDaq SoH allow lIj le' wa' Daq legh corruption.


For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. Psalm 16:10

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We don't know much about Klingon Eschatology - that is, what Klingon's think about "the last things," particularly death and things beyond.

What little we know is that there definitely IS an expectation of personal survivival. Some speak of QI'tu', Paradise - sometimes Sto-Vo-Kor, as "the afterlife for the honored dead, where all true warriors go after they die to fight an eternal battle. The closest Klingon equivalent to heaven."

There is also a place of eternal punishmen "Gre'thor," spoken of in the expression describing the impossible: ghe'torvo' narghDI' qa'pu' (when spirits escape from Gre'thor).

Whether these reflect the beliefs of Klingons - it does give us the clear impression that Klingons understand the expectation that the "qa'" the spirit is something that will indeed survive beyond this life.

This verse of Psalm 16 draws us into considering this as well - what can we expect beyond this life?

Well, David has an answer - even though death may be a mystery. The word "Sheol" sometimes translated as death, or the grave, or even "hell" is derived from a word for "to ask," or "enquire." That is - we ask, we wonder what will happen next? David doesn't tell us he knows, but he goes forward here, with the confidence he's expressed already, and says

vaD SoH DichDaq ghobe' mej wIj qa' Daq Sheol, ghobe' DichDaq SoH allow lIj le' wa' Daq legh corruption.


For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption. Psalm 16:10

David trusts. He says he knows death will not be the "end of the line." He trusts that God won't let him simply rot. I should note that "your holy one" isn't a self-serving "I'm so holy" - the word used comes from Hesed - faithful. He's declaring his trust, his intent to be godly.

Now in the book of Acts, it was known that David did, in fact, die. Was buried. And stayed there. Peter sees "the ultimate 'holy' one" who didn't stay dead was... Jesus, who as "a son of David" fulfilled David's trust.

But that isn't the same as saying David's confidence was only a prediction about Jesus. While believers understand that Jesus does fulfill this promise, the scriptures also make clear we can, with David, be confident that

...God [will] not leave [them] in the grave. Many people fear death because they can neither control nor understand it. As believers, we can be assured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with him forever. This provides real security. (Life Application Bible)

Throughout the Bible, this promise is made clear - we can look forward to a hope, not just for now, but forever. As it says in the book of the prophet Daniel:

Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like stars forever. Daniel 12: 2,3

What a hope! What a tomorrow! When we put our hope, our faith in Him, our lives, our eternity will shine!

Across the Sea of Stars

vaj wIj tIq ghaH Quchqu', je wIj jat rejoices. wIj porgh DIchDaq je
yIn Daq safety.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall
also dwell in safety. Psalm 16:9

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Here's news of interest, especially if you've been working on building a starship. In recent weeks, at the American Association for the Advancement of science, researchers published a short list of ten "habstars," stars "where intelligent civilizations might lurk or they can try to actually spot planets like our own in habitable zones..."

The stars - as close as 4.5 light years away are targets for scientists who are developing ways to study extrasolar planets - it's an exciting prospect and an incredible challenge.

Now when we consider what it might mean to communicate with people around such stars - or travel to them - the challenge may seem impossible. That's because there's no known way to travel at the speed of light - let alone faster. So messages or vessels would take decades - probably centuries to travel back and forth. How could we hope to have a meaningful relationship with such worlds?

How? I've got a Klingon word to answer that: qay'be'! No problem! We've been doing it.. well, for centuries.

One of the delights of Bible study - besides the core delight, of enjoying the Word of God - is the way such study brings us into communication with people centuries apart from our time. And even though the communication might seem one way, we still enter into a conversation with believers more than a thousand years ago.

In this verse from Psalm 16 we find these words:

vaj wIj tIq ghaH Quchqu', je wIj jat rejoices. wIj porgh DIchDaq je
yIn Daq safety.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices. My body shall
also dwell in safety. Psalm 16:9

Now - if you check the King James, or the Jewish Publication translation, you'll see that for "my tongue rejoices" they have "my glory rejoiceth." That isn't surprising - the Hebrew word chabod, glory, is what we find in the Hebrew, not "loshen," tongue. However.... here's where we start having a conversation with believers across the ages.

How was this understood - how does "glory" rejoice? It's an odd sounding idea, and when we look back we discover that in the ancient Greek translation, the Septuagint DIDN'T say glory - it said "tongue." Not only that, in the book of Acts, the apostle Peter, quotes this Psalm and he said, probably quoting from the Septuagint, "my tongue was glad." The Vulgate, the Latin translation, follows this as well.

So when we consider this verse, we have an opportunity to "discuss" across the sea of time - just as we might across the sea of stars with our interstellar neighbors. We can't engage in an immediate conversation, but we can listen to them and weigh their understanding of the passage as we translate it, not only into words, but into our lives.

Modern translations like the New International Version, the New Living Translation and the World English Bible have followed the Septuagint and others in using the word "tongue," some noting the difference in notes.

The progression: "my heart is glad/ my tongue rejoices" echoes for me, the words of Psalm 107 "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so" - that is, when we experience God's saving love - don't keep it secret! TELL someone - much like the Sunday School Song "If you're happy and you know it/ then your face will really show it!" Perhaps this is where the "glory" or "tongue" become synonyms - whether in speech or the joy we express, we rejoice in what God has done!

The Bible is an ancient book - written across centuries. and by people long gone. Yet as we read these words, and enter into a dialog across the ages, God gives us insight, gives us promise and gives us hope.

On the Move?

jIH DIchDaq ghobe' taH vIHta'.

I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

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Imagine for a moment that you are travelling in a rocket that goes 30 kilometers per second. This is on the order of 67,000 miles an hour! At that speed, you could reach the moon in 4 hours - not the three days it usually takes.

This isn't really hypothetical - you ARE moving that fast - at least if you are on the planet Earth. Given the Earth's annual path around the sun, over 900 million kilometers, our planet ("spaceship Earth," if you will) and everyone on it is moving that fast. You might think you won't be moved - but you're wrong - you've gone hundreds of kilometers (or miles) while listening to me.

Now when David expresses his confidence in God in Psalm 16, he says

jIH DIchDaq ghobe' taH vIHta'.

I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

For "moved" he uses the Hebrew word mowt (mote), a word used nearly 40 times in the Bible. It's a primitive root, meaning 'to waver' by implication to slip, shake, fall, be carried, cast, be out of course. For the Klingon I used the word vIH (to move) plus -ta' (is-accomplished) to express "moved"

This word, mowt, shows up over half of those times in the book of Psalms, and it expresses a number of thoughts. Unfortunately, it's even been misunderstood by some to suggest the Earth was the unmoving center of the universe, when Psalm 93 says: The world also is established. It can't be moved. (93:1)

But David knows he'll move - even if he didn't know about the Earth's orbit. Rather, he's expressing trust that his path, his course through life won't be derailed. He can trust God to keep him on track. Better than that, he knows God will set him right if he DOES move off course, as we read in Psalm 94:

When I said, "My foot is slipping!" Your loving kindness, O LORD, held me up. (Psalm 94:18)

[And yes the word translated "slipping" there is mowt.]

We're not immobile, we do move through life. The early believers who followed Jesus spoke of being part of "the Way." They didn't feel like they'd arrived, they were following Jesus as he led them through life.

jIH DIchDaq ghobe' taH vIHta'.

I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8

Putting our trust in God, we can move forward, with a confidence that God WILL keep from being moved off track, providing the mid-course corrections we need, when we need them. Hallelujah!

Down in my.... Kidney?

jIH DichDaq ghurmoH joH'a', 'Iv ghajtaH nobpu' jIH qeS. HIja', wIj tIq instructs jIH Daq the ram seasons.

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. Psalm 16:7

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The problem with translating for aliens is - well, they are just so ALIEN. Imagine people who see the seat of affections and desires as the ... KIDNEY. This isn't an imaginary problem - there is such a people. Those aliens are not some far off race of little green men, but the ancient Hebrews.

The word translated tIq or heart in this verse is really kilyah (kil-yaw') and means a kidney and appears nearly 30 times in the Hebrew scriptures. It is naturally referenced in the legislation for animal sacrifice, but it also appears in a number of places, including this Psalm, as a way of describing "the most secret workings and affections of the heart." (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible).

In modern English we see this almost exclusively translated as "heart." That is no less medically inaccurate than kidney, but today it is the common way we express the seat of our emotional life (if you don't believe me, take a stroll in any greeting card section right now as we approach Valentine's Day). Honestly, I'm glad that is the prevailing image - I just can't see leading a Sunday School class with "I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my *kidney*.

You'll be happy to know this is also the case for Klingons - that is, that they use the term "heart" to describe the home of their feelings. They express this in expressions like:

tIqlIj Da'angnIS. "You must show your heart."

and

tIqDaq HoSna' tu'lu'. "Real power is in the heart."

Curious idioms about "the body" are often a problem for language learners as well as tranlators. You can even find a book by May Pare, a Southern California waitress who earned a master's degree from UCLA specializing in English as a second language. The book, Body Idioms and More, deals exclusively with body-part idioms.

One news report mentions that

after all those years of slinging hash and refilling coffee mugs, May Pare found herself "up to her eyeballs" with a collection of sayings that would "blow the mind" of someone trying to learn English.

They were the likes of "pay through the nose," "using elbow grease," "having a hollow leg" and "being lower than a snake's belly." There was "heads will roll," "press the flesh" and "keeping your eyes peeled."

Imagine translating THOSE into Klingon!

jIH DichDaq ghurmoH joH'a', 'Iv ghajtaH nobpu' jIH qeS. HIja', wIj tIq instructs jIH Daq the ram seasons.

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel. Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. Psalm 16:7

The Life Application Bible notes:

It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Instead, we should seek God's will first. By constantly thinking about the Lord and his way of living, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires. Communicating with God allows him to counsel us and give us wisdom.

Like David, we need to take God's Word deep inside - down in our heart, our kidneys, liver and more. For when we let His thoughts guide every fiber of our being, then like David we can joyfully say

jIH DichDaq ghurmoH joH'a' , 'Iv ghajtaH nobpu' jIH qeS

I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel!

In Pleasant Places

The tlheghmey ghaj fallen Daq jIH Daq bel Daqmey. HIja', jIH ghaj a QaQ inheritance.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalm 16:6

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In the movie "When Harry Met Sally," Billy Crystal's character Harry always reads the last page of a book FIRST because he wants to know how it turns out "in case he dies" before finishing it.

I can understand this wanting to know "how things will turn out" in life or in a book - maybe you do too. Facing our uncertain future it IS easy to worry about outcomes.

That's why Davids faith is attractive - he KNOWS how his story will turn out. He's sure that the "lines have fallen to him in pleasant places." That means, when the boundaries are drawn at last, what is his inheritance will be good - will be bel Daqmey - pleasant places.

PLACE - Daq - is our Klingon word from the word for today. Thinking about "our place" and where we'll end up is an important theme in Scripture - some might say it is THE THEME of the Bible. You may have noticed this word, Daq showing up often in my podcasts. That is the effect of the translate table method I've used for the KLV.

Because Klingon doesn't have prepositions - particularly like "in" or "at" I made the locational suffix "Daq" stand in for them - for quite a lot of words, really: against, at, in, into, on, place, presence, and to. AND the word, Daq, really is the standalone noun for "place". You hear this word at work in a number of Klingon compound words. Bed == QonqDaq (Qong = sleep), Table == SopDaq (Sop = eat), and "where?" == nuqDaq (nuq == what?). If you tell your child to go to to bed, you might add the -Daq suffix and say QongDaqDaq yIQong (in-bed you-sleep!).

As I've noted - the KLV with its word-replacement method for Klingon-izing the WEB is a rough translation at best, so it isn't surprising to find a preponderance of "Daq"s in a passage. And - here's another note - the word "place" isn't really in this passage at all, it is used here as a helper word to complete the thought that the boundary lines will land in - the Hebrew word is naim, pleasant... something - just about every English translation completes the thought with the word pleasant "place" or "land."

Every translation, from the admittedly rough KLV to the majestic KJV and Douay or modern paraphrases like the NLT or Message must make decisions like this. Languages can't be mapped precisely one to another. In fact, think there is a lot of value in using more than one - it's a way of triangulating beyond the work of any one set of translators to the meaning of the underlying text. By the way - if you have a printed copy of the King James, you can see where such interpolated words have been used - the KJV is usually printed with italicized words for the words the translators used to fill in. If you've got access to an online bible - for example the BibleTool at Crosswire.org - http://www.crosswire.org/study, or the Blueletter Bible - http://www.blueletterbible.org/ - you can access electronic versions that let you link back to the original texts, much as I do for these studies.

The place David expects to find as the end of the story is a pleasant one. Maybe "happily ever after" is a paraphrase one could use. This isn't to say his life was an easy one. The Daqmey - places - he had to go through included slaying a giant, fighting for his kingdom, even battling his own children. Yet he found the confidence to say "I have a good inheritance." Not because he was deluded, but because he found through those difficulties he could trust God to help him through them.

We don't know the details of our tomorrows, nor can we turn to the last page of our life's story to discover how it will turn out. But we can take David's example and put our confidence in the one who will at last bring us to bel Daqmey, pleasant places.

As Jesus reminds us:

Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient. Matthew 6:33,34

Thanks a LOT!

joH'a' assigned wIj portion je wIj HIvje'. SoH chenmoHta' wIj lot secure.

The LORD assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

(click for podcast version)

What is your lot in life? Rich or poor is a matter of perspective across the years of one's life as our fortunes rise and fall. And you might consider yourself impoverished - yet to another in different circumstances you'd be wealthy. "LOT" - that's our Klingon word to consider today, though you'll note, it isn't one that is translated into Klingon in our text.

Sometimes you might hear successful people of faith, suggest that earthly success indicates divine approval. At its best this is a recognition of dependance - at its worst it can be a gross misunderstanding of scripture. And it ISN'T what King David is thinking in this verse from Psalm 16.

For our worldly good is not tied to a simple equation. "Comforters" like those who visited Job may know many words about God that they think point to a cause-and-effect system, but fail to bring help or hope to those dealing with disaster.

SoH chenmoHta' wIj lot secure.

You made my lot secure.

Since my Klingon Language Version merely does word-for-word replacements, there's plenty of places where it doesn't provide a translated word - and this is one of those cases.

The first problem is there are vastly different meanings of those three letters - in particular it's the NAME of Abraham's nephew - nearly a third of the occurences in the Bible. Obviously the mechanical process of generating the KLV yields odd "translations" but Lot's *name* is too familiar to translate it into a meaning (especially the wrong meaning).

"LOT" in this verse is the Hebrew word gowral (go-rawl), which means "pebble" and appears over 60 times in the Bible. The corresponding Greek word, kleros (klay'-ros) that appears over 10 times means "a break," a bit of wood, i.e. a die. The literal meaning is some small object used in making a random choice - like we might use dice today, or flipping a coin.

This is not an endorsement of gambling, but is seen across scriptures as one way that believers would use to make decisions - as one writer notes:

The lot was always resorted to by the Hebrews with strictest reference to the interposition of God, and as a method of ascertaining the divine will (Pr 16:33), and in serious cases of doubt (Es 3:7). (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

For a Klingon word - a literal translation of gowral might be naghHom - little rock. That doesn't tell us much. Better might be to come up with a phrase - maybe "SuD naghHom" - the stone gambles? Maybe you see why I opted NOT to translate this word.

joH'a' assigned wIj portion je wIj HIvje'. SoH chenmoHta' wIj lot secure.

The LORD assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

I bring up the word, and its meaning, because I like noting that when David talks about his portion he uses a word that suggests his fortune, his "lot" has an arbitrary aspect - something outside of his merit, his personal worth. I think David is reminding us of the action in his life of GRACE - God's unmerited favor. One more thing worth noting - the verse begins stating a fact, something impersonal, ABOUT God: The LORD assigned my portion and my cup.

But it ends with words of relationship, addressed to God: You made my lot secure.

I think this is what's missing when we start fooling ourselves into acting as if our LOT - our success or prosperity - is in something we did. For then we've lost the most important thing, the relationship with a God who loves us, who cares for us - not because we somehow proved we were worth it, but because he loves us better than we could ever hope or deserve.

joH'a' assigned wIj portion je wIj HIvje'. SoH chenmoHta' wIj lot secure.

The LORD assigned my portion and my cup. You made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

What a great God!

Ewwww - Blood!

chaj QoSqu'ghachmey DIchDaq taH multiplied 'Iv nob gifts Daq another joH'a'. chaj tlhutlh nobmey vo' 'Iw jIH DichDaq ghobe' nob, ghobe' tlhap chaj pongmey Daq wIj wuSDu'.


Their sorrows shall be multiplied who give gifts to another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take their names on my lips. Psalm 16:4

(click for podcast)

This passage considers the sort of life David chooses to live, or more importantly: the kind of life he REJECTS. In it we also find an important Klingon word - one that will come naturally to humans, especially if they are squeamish - it's the word for blood - 'Iw.

If you're familiar with Klingon sayings you might recognize it from the toast:

"'IwlIj jachjaj" (May your blood scream)

Or the phrase uttered to a young Klingon going through the Rite of Ascension:
"'Iw bIQtqDaq bIlengjaj" (May you travel the river of blood)

In the KLV 'IW translates the Hebrew word dam (dawm) a word that occurs almost 300 times in the Bible. Does it stand for life, or death? Something like two thirds of the references in the Hebrew scriptures refer to death, though we also find in Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood" (vaD the yIn vo' the ghab ghaH Daq the 'Iw) - indeed the whole sacrificial system connects the blood of a sacrifice with new life and redemption.

And in their toasts, or advice to their young, Klingons make a point of connecting life with blood - some might see the "river of blood" to refer to blood shed in battle, but I think it means to live life fully - particularly as the word RIVER (bIQtIq) is a compound water (bIQ) heart (tIq). I think the thought is the wish that your "river of life" - your blood - will carry you on to honor and glory.

It's clear how David sees blood when he says:

chaj tlhutlh nobmey vo' 'Iw jIH DichDaq ghobe' nob
(Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer)

He may literally be rejecting sacrifices of blood to other gods, but I think the main point is this: HIS life, his BLOOD will not be poured out for mere idols - the false gods of his enemies. I like how this verse is translated by Eugene Peterson in "The Message" translation:

Don't just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I'll never treat god-names
like brand-names.

For the question is this: the only real capital we have to spend is not our money, or our property - it's our blood - our LIFE. You can't buy it, you can't create it - it's the one bank account you can never add to, only spend. We need to listen to David and refuse to waste a drop of our limited days on counterfeit gods - whatever they may be earthly riches, position, fame, or whatever takes God's place in our lives.

Jeremiah cautions: Has a nation changed its gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. (Jeremiah 2:11)

Let us join David, and pour our lives for the God who IS truly God, spending our blood on lives of joy and service that will last not just for our earthly pilgramage - but pay dividends forever.

IN GOOD COMPANY

As vaD the le' ghotpu' 'Iv 'oH Daq the tera', chaH 'oH the excellent ones
Daq 'Iv ghaH Hoch wIj tIv.

As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in
whom is all my delight. {Psalm 16:3)



(podcast version)

In an episode of the Simpsons, the "Comic Book Guy", who is the
ultimate scifi fan is thrown out of a bar. Lying in the gutter, he
asks sadly:

"Is there a Klingon word for 'loneliness'?"

(pulls out dictionary)

"Ahh... 'G'arr D'aK!"

Now - *if* I were also a scifi geek, I might point out that there's no
real Klingon word for "loneliness." The closest equivalent would be
the phrase "jImobqu'" (pronounced jhi-mobe-koo-uh), which means "I'm
so alone!" Comic Book Guy's attempt of "ghardak" is
gibberish.

[I would also - IF I were such a geek - note that Vulcan does have a
word "sa'awek" for 'alone: being apart from others; solitary; being
without anyone or anything else', as does Romulan (Rihannsu): her'u -
lonely.]

Here in the third verse of Psalm 16, David turns in this verse from
his source of all the good in his life (God) to his companions "Daq
the tera'" / "in the earth," Calling them "saints" - "kadashim" in
Hebrew - they are the "holy" or "set-apart" ones.

The known Klingon dictionary is lacking - we don't have words for
"holy" or "saints." Digging in a bit we see the Hebrew word used
here, qadowsh (kaw-doshe'), appears over 100 times in the Bible and is
based on the word qadash (kaw-dash'), which appears over 150 times.
The idea of holiness is not is someone or something that is 'pure' or
'prim' but to be "special" and "set apart." It follows, I think, that
the Greek word for the assembly of believers is be ekklesia
(ek-klay-see'-ah), the called out ones. They are "set apart" - not by
some special merit, but being called out by God.

To supply Klingon words for the KLV lexicon I've used "le'" (be
special, exceptional) for "holy" and then translated saints as "le'
ghotpu'" - exceptional people.

One writer notes that David "acknowledges the worth and delights in
the faith of the saints ... the people set apart for God's
possession." [New Bible Commentary.]

This time of year, my commute to work consists of a walk of about a
mile (something less than 2 kilometers) to the bus that takes me to my
office. It can be a daunting slog through snowstorms, but most days
it is a pleasant hike - and not necessarily a solitary one. Though I
walk alone, I walk in good company. Thanks to a variety of podcasts,
I trek through the neighborhood accompanied by believers from
California, the Netherlands, Illinois, Florida and.. well, I'm not
even sure where they all come from. But, in my walk, I am able to
enjoy scripture readings, and reflections on the Word and life.


As vaD the le' ghotpu' 'Iv 'oH Daq the tera', chaH 'oH the excellent ones
Daq 'Iv ghaH Hoch wIj tIv.

As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in
whom is all my delight. {Psalm 16:3)



What we need to recognize here is this - whether we have technology
like podcasts or not - as believers WE DON'T WALK ALONE. We are part
of a good company that spreads across the world and the ages. We
sometimes get so focussed on our world of today that we lose sight of
all the faithful, what the letter to the Hebrews calls a "great a
cloud of witnesses" who accompany us in our life of faith. I
especially encourage you to take advantage of resources like the
CCEL.org library of "Classic Christian books in electronic format"
(free!) as well as NewAdvent.org, with its archive the writing of the
church fathers and more.

Whether or not Klingon, English, Vulcan or Romulan *has* a word for
loneliness - it is good to realize that no believer needs to be alone
in his or her daily walk. Our company is one of fellowship in
congregations, and with the historic witness of believers from
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, to Polycarp and Augustine, to
C.S. Lewis. It's a grand company! Come along as we trek together!


As vaD the le' ghotpu' 'Iv 'oH Daq the tera', chaH 'oH the excellent ones
Daq 'Iv ghaH Hoch wIj tIv.

As for the saints who are in the earth, they are the excellent ones in
whom is all my delight. {Psalm 16:3)

Things to think about.

(click for podcast)

Apart vo' SoH jIH ghaj ghobe' QaQ Doch.

Apart from you I have no good thing. Psalm 16:2b

"Doch" - is a great Klingon word. As a noun, it is the word for "thing," and joined with the all-purpose question word "nuq" (what?) you can use it to get by among Klingons. Simply point at things and say

"Dochvam nuq"

To find out what they are. It means "thing" (Doch) plus "this-one" (-vam), "what is it?" (nuq). That phrase - Dochvam nuq? - and a winning personality will get you far among Klingons. Oh, and if you don't manage it well, they'll use the word to describe you - as a verb, "Doch" means "be rude".

Apart vo' SoH jIH ghaj ghobe' QaQ Doch.

Apart from you I have no good thing.

It's a great word - but I have to mention.. it isn't exactly in this part of Psalm 16:2. And this is a good time to think about the problem of translating and how fluid language can be. For example, the Hebrew Psalm 23 starts with is a very terse "Adonai ro-ee, lo ecksahr" Only four words, which expand into the familiar nine of the King James version's

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want"

In this passage, the eight words:
Apart vo' SoH jIH ghaj ghobe' QaQ Doch.
or
"Apart from you I have no good thing."

Come from three Hebrew words: tovthi bel al-eyka. The KJV expands this to 6, perhaps not very clear words:

my goodness extendeth not to thee

We get a better idea of what, uh, things this verse communicates from some moder translations:

• New Living: All the good things I have are from you.
• Amplified: I have no good beside {or} beyond You.
• NASB: I have no good besides You.

The important word - in every translation is the word "good." It translates the common Hebrew word towb, which is seen over 500 times in the Bible. It's the same word in the expression "Mazel tov," and is translated with many different English words: glad, good, graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, loving, merry, pleasant, precious, prosperity, sweet, wealth, and welfare, to name a few.

Apart vo' SoH jIH ghaj ghobe' QaQ Doch.

Apart from you I have no good thing.

What matters here is really not Dochmey, things, but QaQ - what is GOOD.

And, Jesus points out to us how to find the GOOD things we need:

He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious for
your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will
wear. ... Life is more than food, and the body is more than
clothing. Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink;
neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of
these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But
seek God's Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. (Luke 12)

Dochmeyvam nuq? What are these things we should seek? God only knows - and when we seek after him... we will too.

Who's the Boss?

(click for podcast)

SoH 'oH wIj joH.
You are my Lord. Psalm 16:2a

Klingon command structure is not what we're used to on Earth. Often a commander is replaced, not through what we would regard as orderly promotion, but through dueling, or outright assassination. The assumption is that a leader unable to defend him or herself ought to be replaced.

This may be reflected in the Klingon theological claim "we killed our gods." How better to "promote" oneself to the God of the universe, but by first eliminating the competition?

SoH 'oH wIj joH.
You are my Lord.

I don't think the Klingons are alone. As far as I know, no humans claim outright to have assassinated the almighty - yet examine our lives and the day-to-day choices we make. Then, ask - is this the life of one who says to the God

SoH 'oH wIj joH.
You are my Lord.

or one who has decided to take God's place?

This verse addressess the almighty with the tetragrammaton, YHVH, translated often as LORD from the Jewish practice of reading the name as "adonai," Lord). The verse declares YHVH is lord (adonai). A number of modern translations (including the WEB) present this name as "Yahweh," though I generally use the older practice of "the LORD." The word "Jehovah" derives from a misreading of the Hebrew - the Jewish scholars inserted the vowels (ah-oh-a) for adonai in the tetragrammaton as a reminder to SAY 'adonai'; some early Christian monk, used those vowels and came up with ye-ho-vah, or Jehovah. The practice in Klingon translations has been to use joH'a' (great Lord) for God or Jehovah (which I think it resembles), though we now know there is a term, qun, for "god." In time this may be the more common term used in Klingon translations.


In the KJV and you can see both kinds of "LORD" in this psalm as it says

my soul , thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord

(this LORD/Lord parallel is also visible in Psalm 8's "O LORD our Lord")

Now, I don't think there is any Klingon or human cultural tendency or inclination to join David as he says.

SoH 'oH wIj joH.
You are my Lord.

We need - Klingon or Human - to learn this just as David did. In his struggle to become (and remain) King he learned there is a limit to his ascendancy, and we need to learn this too. We are NOT God. This is part of the Biblical advice:

The taHvIp vo' joH'a' ghaH the tagh vo' valtaHghach
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalm 110:10a)

This counsels not terror, but awe: the clear understanding that we must answer to our creator. In short, the question really is "who is the boss?" When we misplace ourselves as the center of the universe, we'll find sooner or later, to our regret, that we are NOT God. We need to humbler ourselves, and with David turn in faith and say

SoH 'oH wIj joH.
You are my Lord.

As this new year begins - lets look for ways to remind ourselves who is the boss.

reH DuSIgh vavlI'

pol jIH, joH'a', vaD Daq SoH ta' jIH tlhap lulIgh.
Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge. Psalm 16:1

(click for podcast)

reH DuSIgh vavlI' - (your father is part of you always) is a remark Worf once made to Lt. Commander Data, and I agree. I think of this as I begin these studies of Psalm 16, for I am certain that any Bible my father owned, or gave as a gift, will be found to have verses of Psalm 16 underlined (even the one he carried as a prisoner of war in WWII). One Bible of his even had the notation by this verse "my confession.

pol jIH, joH'a', vaD Daq SoH ta' jIH tlhap lulIgh.
Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge.

Do you find that you are drawn to that declaration? At least I know I am, and want to make that my confession as well. I know I need a refuge - to whom CAN we turn better than God? Turning to God for that refuge requires the will to depend on God.

I expect no one will have a short list of things we need a refuge *from*; daily life, if not the daily news, will give an ample supply. The word here, lulIgh, is a rare Klingon word for 'refuge' (it's in the dictionary, but there aren't any known canonical examples of using it in the Klingon literature), and translates the Hebrew word chacah (khaw-saw'), which shows up over 30 times in the Bible. "chacaw" carries the idea of "to-flee" - perhaps not a Klingon-sounding concept, but even the most valiant warrior must seek safety at times.

And the focus of the Psalm is not a negative (fear) but a a positive (serious devotion to God). One writer notes:

Almost every verse of this psalm speaks of some aspect of singlemindedness: i.e. throwing in one's lot with God in the realms of one's security(1), welfare(2), associates(3), worship(4) and ambitions,) [Tyndale OT Commentaries]

Preserve is rendered pol (keep) and comes from the Hebrew word (used more than 400 times) shamar, with the idea of a hedge, a fence to protect one. You might also use the Klingon word "shield" (yoD) or "forcefield" (botjan).

The idea of this hedge, this defense, around the believer calls to mind the words of another psalm

The Duy vo' joH'a' DabtaH around chaH 'Iv taHvIp ghaH, je delivers chaH.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (Ps. 34.7)

What is your source of refuge - to whom, or what, do you turn? Here's a tip - if you have a Bible and a pencil handy: underline Psalm 16.1 and start making it your confession today.

pol jIH, joH'a', vaD Daq SoH ta' jIH tlhap lulIgh.
Preserve me, God, for in you do I take refuge. Psalm 16:1

reH 'eb tu'lu'

vaD everything jatlhpu' Sum joH'a' ghaH DuH.
For everything spoken by God is possible. Luke 1.37

(click for podcast)

This is a Biblical verse, appointed for the fourth Sunday of Advent, that would delight a Vulcan - pondering the logic of it is a tricky business, particularly if you look into the Greek text and realize that it says literally "nothing spoken by God is impossible. (I wonder if the translators who put it in the positive were trying to avoid the dreaded "double negative?")

However you put it, it has potential to fuel long debates along the lines of "can God make a rock so heavy he can't lift it?" And to do so would, I think, miss the point. The context for this passage is the angel Gabriel announcing the miraculous birth of Jesus to Mary. This is the angel's answer to Mary's objections:

vaD everything jatlhpu' Sum joH'a' ghaH DuH.
For everything spoken by God is possible. Luke 1.37

The key Greek word is adunateo ad-oo-nat-eh'-o - is only used twice in this form. It means "to be unable" (that is, impossible) and comes from the negative "a" plus "dunateo" to be able. The root of "dunateo" indicates power (to be able) and is heard in English words like "dynamic" or "dynamite." For the Klingon, I've used "DuH" (be possible). To say "impossible" it would be DuH plus the -Ha' suffix: DuHHa' - not-be-possible. So nothing - even a baby where none would or should be expected - nothing, God says is impossible.

It's worth noting, the other appearence of this word - when Jesus is explaining to the disciples
their failure in healing :

"He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." Mt 17:20

Not just for Mary - for all believers "impossible" is out of the vocabulary. What a challenge! And what a promise. It recalls a Klingon proverb: reH 'eb tu'lu' - there is always a chance. In other words, never give up.

I wish I could keep this foremost in my heart every day - and say "I believe, help my unbelief!" I need to write this in places that I'll see it every morning and every night: nothing God says is impossible! Oh, may we live by those words!

Keep On Praying!

tlhob Hutlh mevtaH.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

(click for podcast)

This verse - part of the third Sunday in Advent readings - is another great entrant in the "short-easy-to-memorize-Bible-verses" list. In no more than NINE words, you can memorize this verse in THREE languages: Latin: sine intermissione orate English: Pray without ceasing and Klingon: tlhob Hutlh mevtaH. [You can even do it in fewer words. A more grammatical Klingon might be "reH yItlhobtaH" - always you-be-praying.]

The important word here is pray. In Greek it is proseuchomai (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee), from pros- (unto, toward), and euchomai (yoo'-khom-ahee, to ask) and it appears over 80 times in the Bible. For Klingon, I've used the word "tlhob," to ask.

This season, the season celebrated in churches as Advent, represents a time of anticipation for Christians who understand our moment in history as one of waiting. They prepare for the coming of Jesus - his advent - by recalling and reenacting in story and song, his arrival as a baby. Caught in this tension between remembering and longing for his return, we really do need Paul's advice:

tlhob Hutlh mevtaH.
Pray without ceasing.

The message of Advent and its completion in Christmas is Immanuel - God is with us.

This may sound simply like acknowledging the presence of God. The Vulcans have a word for that - a'tha. This is the Vulcan word for the experience, the knowledge of God's presence - something apparently present in ALL Vulcans from birth. This does not seem to be our human experience, nor the Klingon one judging by the Klingon claim to have "killed" their gods

But just knowing, even experiencing God's existence isn't enough though. As James notes: The demons also believe, and shudder. James 2:19

Here is where

tlhob Hutlh mevtaH.
Pray without ceasing.

is essential. A life of prayer - continuous prayer - is a life of relationship, not mere "fact." Praying links us closely to God - just as regular conversation with friends builds your relationship with them. After all, how much do you think about a friend you haven't talked to for years?

This time of year so often focuses on PRESENTS -and too often our prayers are like Janis Joplin's "Oh Lord, won't you give me a Mercedes Benz?" - mere Santa Claus lists. But if we live - continually in prayer it will be God's PRESENCE with that we seek. The gift I need to open and use are in these simple words:

tlhob Hutlh mevtaH.
Pray without ceasing.

These little ones....

'ach vaj 'oH ghaH ghobe' the DichDaq vo' lIj vav 'Iv ghaH Daq chal vetlh wa' vo' Dochvammey mach ones should chIlqu'.
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

(click for podcast)

If you're a pastor, and looking for a way to quickly be driven out of your parish - I can't think of a better controversy to raise than.... a discussion about Santa Claus. I fear at times that the deepest beliefs of the Bible could be question without the kind of difficulties a preacher would meet if they weighed in on the reality of Kris Kringle.

Nor am I brave enough to tread on this legend - though I wonder what a Klingon would make of some of the stories? The Klingon dispostion toward things military lend to a tendency to be (shall we say?) paranoid. Imagine how they'd feel about a silent intruder who routinely slips in past all defenses to surprise the inhabitants! Motivated by generosity or not - I expect a Klingon hearing of such stealth would be more alarmed than happy.

But - maybe if they were introduced to the real Santa Claus - St Nicholas:

St. Nicholas, lover of the poor and patron saint of children, is a model of how Christians are meant to live. As priest and bishop, Nicholas put Jesus Christ at the center of his life and ministry. His concern for children and others in need or danger expressed a love for God which points toward Jesus, the source of true caring and compassion. Embracing St. Nicholas customs can help recover the true center of Christmas—the birth of Jesus.

Understanding St. Nicholas as the original and true holiday gift-giver also helps shift focus to giving rather than getting, compassion rather than consumption, need rather than greed. This can help restore balance to increasingly materialistic and stress-filled Advent and Christmas seasons.

St. Nicholas is beloved throughout the world and continues to be revered in Christian tradition, especially as protector and patron of children in the West and as Wonderworker in the East. The St. Nicholas Center aims to bring Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians together in common purpose—to help people understand and appreciate the original St. Nicholas, the only real Santa Claus.
[http://www.stnicholascenter.orgI encourage you to visit the site to learn more]

As a people - Klingons are depicted as fierce warriors - potent enemies in battle. But anyone who reads at all far in the lore of Star Trek will know how fiercely they honor and guard their family - they know the value of protecting children. They'd likely be impressed by the stories - some quite fantastic - of St. Nick's rescue of children. Or how he protected the honor of dowry-less girls by secretly presenting them with gifts of gold coins.

In the Bible Jesus says these words, used in the readings for the commemoration of St. Nicholas:

'ach vaj 'oH ghaH ghobe' the DichDaq vo' lIj vav 'Iv ghaH Daq chal vetlh wa' vo' Dochvammey mach ones should chIlqu'.
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

The mach - little - ones matter. Not just to a saint like Nicholas, but to God. In this season we have many opportunities to be generous. What can we do to protect the neediest among us?

A tlhIngan Christmas?

" batlh Daq joH'a' Daq the highest, Daq tera' roj, QaQ DichDaq toward Hoch."

"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward all." Luke 2:14

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Picture this: Some December, oh, a few years from now, you find yourself wandering down a corridor in the Klingon section of Deep Space 9. Late at night, the lights are low and you hear a noise - a lot of noise! Spilling out into the hall is a crowd of boisterous tlhInganpu'. These Klingons are coming from the Klingon multifaith lalDan pa' (chapel). Of course! They just finished their Christmas Midnight service and they're off to celebrate. AND... they're heading your way.

What do you do? More importantly, what do you say?

• nuqneh?
  
  
• nuqDaq 'oH puchpa''e'?
  
  
• QISmaS petIv!
  
  
• toDwI'ma' qoS yItiv!
  

Well, of course the answer depends on many things, for one, whether you celebrate Christmas (many don't - even the early Christians were far more focussed on Easter as their celebration. Historically there have been times that Christians adamantly opposed the festivities). You might just call out the angels's song from Luke's gospel: "batlh Daq joH'a' Daq the highest" "glory to God in the highest." (though, by the time you're on such a space station, I hope you'll have a more grammatical translation than the Klingon Language Version - but it's a start.)

nuqneh?

This is the all purpose Klingon greeting - "what do you want," literally. That's an okay thing to say when meeting Klingons, though not quite in the spirit of the occasion.


nuqDaq 'oH puchpa''e'?

That would be fine - IF you're looking for the bathroom - otherwise, it might not make the best impression. While we're at it, one more "nuq" phrase - even more useful - is "nuqjatlh." It's the Klingon "hunh?" and means "what did you say?"

QISmaS petIv!

This gets more in the spirit of the celebration. The first word QISmaS is an attempt to transliterate "Christmas" into a Klingon spelling. After all, we don't translate "Christmas" into English - it's a word composed of Greek and Latin parts. It seems reasonable for Klingons to adopt this term to denote the celebration. The second word, petIv, is an imperative "all-of-you-enjoy-it!" You may decide to soften this with "botIvjaj" "may-you-enjoy-it" - or if you celebrate Christmas too, you could say QISmaS wItIvjaj "may we enjoy Christmas!"

toDwI'ma' qoS yItIv!

This is a phrase to indicate you, too, celebrate Jesus's birth. Literally "our-saviour's-birthday you-enjoy-it." Note here I said "yItIv," which is the singular "you" command "enjoy". You could also, as I noted earlier, say petIv or botIvjaj.


So - what would you choose to say? It's perhaps a fanciful question - after all I haven't quite built my spaceship to go off to Deep Space Nine. But it isn't hard to find people of many tongues celebrating this holiday. Nor is it hard to find places on the internet that provide Christmas greetings in every language from Afrikaans (een plesierige kerfees) to Yugoslavian (Cestitamo Bozic). As Christmas approaches this Advent - why not take a moment to learn a new way to call out with holiday cheer, so with the angels you too can say:

" batlh Daq joH'a' Daq the highest, Daq tera' roj, QaQ DichDaq toward Hoch."

"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward all." Luke 2:14