Psalm 30 Speech Act

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Psalm 30

Please note: Resources for Psalm 30 are in the process of being reformatted for visual consistency and improved functionality.

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Speech Act Analysis

What is Speech Act Analysis?

The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.

• Summary Visual
• Analysis Chart

Summary Visual

Speaker		Verses		Macro Speech Acts		Addressee
David		v. 1 A psalm. The song for the dedication of the house. By David.
David		v. 2 I shall exalt you, YHWH, because you drew me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.		VOW (vv. 2–4) I shall exalt you, YHWH, because you healed me!		YHWH
		v. 3 YHWH, my God, I cried to you for help and you healed me.
		v. 4 YHWH, you brought up my life from Sheol; you restored me to life, so that I did not go down to the pit.
		v. 5 Sing praise to YHWH, his faithful ones! And praise his holy name!		EXHORTATION (vv. 5–6) Sing praise to YHWH, his faithful ones, because his anger does not last, but his favor brings life!		Faithful ones
		v. 6 For there is a moment in his anger; there is life in his favor. Weeping might remain during the evening, but by the morning there is a shout of joy.
"David"		v. 7 But I had said when I was at ease, I will never waver.		DESCRIPTION (vv. 7–8) I was overconfident and said, "I will never waver!" But all my strength was because of your favor. When you took that away, I was in anguish.		YHWH
		v. 8 YHWH, in your favor you had established strength for my mountain. You hid your face; I was in anguish.
David		v. 9 To you, YHWH, I would call out and to the Lord I would beg for mercy.		REPORT (vv. 9–11) But I called out to you, arguing that "I cannot praise you if I am dead!" and begging you "Be merciful to me!"		YHWH
		v. 10 What gain is there in my blood, in my going down to the grave? Can dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness?
		v. 11 Listen, YHWH, and be merciful to me! YHWH, be a defender for me!
David		v. 12 You changed my mourning into dancing for me; you removed my sackcloth and dressed me with joy,		VOW (vv. 12–13) I will praise you forever, because you changed my mourning into joy!
		v. 13 so that people will sing to you "Glory! and will not stay silent. YHWH, my God, I shall praise you forever.

Speech Act Analysis Chart

The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).

  Legend

Verse	Hebrew	CBC	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)
Verse number and poetic line	Hebrew text	English translation	Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type	More specific illocution type with paraphrased context	Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings	What the speaker intends for the address to think	What the speaker intends for the address to feel	What the speaker intends for the address to do

If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.

Emendations/Revocalizations legend
*Emended text*	Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation.
*Revocalized text*	Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization.

Verse	Text (Hebrew)	Text (CBC)	Sentence type	Illocution (general)	Illocution with context	Macro speech act (1)	Macro speech act (2)	Intended perlocution (Think)	Intended perlocution (Feel)	Intended perlocution (Do)	Speech Act Notes
1	מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁיר־חֲנֻכַּ֖ת הַבַּ֣יִת לְדָוִֽד׃	A psalm. The song for the dedication of the house. By David.	Fragment	Assertive	Informing concerning the author and purpose of the psalm.
2	אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה	I shall exalt you, YHWH,	Declarative	Commissive	Vowing to exalt YHWH	Vowing to exalt YHWH	Vowing to exalt YHWH	• The faithful ones will know there is a reason to exalt YHWH. • YHWH will understand the exalted position in which David regards him.			• See the verbal semantic analysis of the cohortative, אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣.
	כִּ֣י דִלִּיתָ֑נִי	because you drew me up				Explaining his reasons for exalting YHWH		• The faithful ones will wonder if there is a reason David was ill	• The faithful ones will feel encouragement, relief, and joy that YHWH was faithful to heal David		• See the imagery table for "drawing up" as rescuing
	וְלֹא־שִׂמַּ֖חְתָּ אֹיְבַ֣י לִֽי׃	and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
3	יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָ֑י שִׁוַּ֥עְתִּי אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ	YHWH, my God, I cried to you for help	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting YHWH's healing
	וַתִּרְפָּאֵֽנִי׃	and you healed me.
4	יְֽהוָ֗ה הֶֽעֱלִ֣יתָ מִן־שְׁא֣וֹל נַפְשִׁ֑י	YHWH, you brought up my life from Sheol;	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting YHWH's salvation
	חִ֝יִּיתַ֗נִי *מִיָּֽרְדִי*־בֽוֹר׃	you restored me to life, so that I did not go down to the pit.	Declarative	Assertive	Repoting YHWH's restoration
5	זַמְּר֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה חֲסִידָ֑יו	Sing praise to YHWH, his faithful ones!	Imperative	Directive	Exhorting YHWH's faithful ones to praise him	Exhorting YHWH's faithful ones to praise him	Exhorting YHWH's faithful ones to praise him			• The faithful ones will praise YHWH for his deliverance of David	• See the background ideas on the congregational gathering of thanksgiving ceremonies.
	וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃	And praise his holy name!	Imperative	Directive	Exhorting YHWH's faithful ones to praise his holy name
6	כִּ֤י רֶ֨גַע׀ בְּאַפּוֹ֮	For there is a moment in his anger;	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining that YHWH's anger lasts only a moment	Explaining the reasons YHWH is praiseworthy		• The faithful ones will conclude that David considers his illness and hardship less significant than the life produced by YHWH's favor	• The faithful ones will feel encouraged that YHWH's anger does not last long • The faithful ones will feel encouraged that YHWH's favor brings life
	חַיִּ֪ים בִּרְצ֫וֹנ֥וֹ	there is life in his favor.			Explaining that YHWH's favor brings life
	בָּ֭עֶרֶב יָלִ֥ין בֶּ֗כִי	Weeping might remain during the evening,	Declarative	Assertive	Explaining that the temporary weeping caused by YHWH's anger is soon followed by restored joy
	וְלַבֹּ֥קֶר רִנָּֽה׃	but by the morning there is a shout of joy.
7	וַ֭אֲנִי אָמַ֣רְתִּי בְשַׁלְוִ֑י	But I had said when I was at ease,	Declarative • "Declarative"	Assertive • "Assertive"	Describing the cause of his illness • "Boasting in his own strength"	Describing the cause of his illness	Describing the cause of his illness	• The faithful ones will recognize that David acted arrogantly. • YHWH will know that David now understands the cause of his illness.	• The faithful ones will feel worried for David's state	• The faithful ones will pursue humility and thankfulness for YHWH's favor
	בַּל־אֶמּ֥וֹט לְעוֹלָֽם׃	"I will never waver."
8	יְֽהוָ֗ה בִּרְצוֹנְךָ֮ הֶעֱמַ֪דְתָּה לְֽהַרְרִ֫י עֹ֥ז	YHWH, in your favor you had established strength for my mountain.	Declarative	Assertive	Confessing that it was YHWH who had provided his strength			• The faithful ones will understand YHWH's discipline of David and the cause of his illness
	הִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ פָנֶ֗יךָ	You hid your face;	Declarative	Assertive	Describing the effects of YHWH's discipline
	הָיִ֥יתִי נִבְהָֽל׃	I was in anguish.
9	אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֶקְרָ֑א	To you, YHWH, I would call out	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting how he called out to YHWH	Reporting how he called out to YHWH	Reporting how he called out to YHWH	• The faithful ones will conclude that David recognized the cause and solution to his illness	• The faithful ones will feel anxious for David's state • The faithful ones will feel encouraged to call out to YHWH when they, too, are in need
	וְאֶל־אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃	and to the Lord I would beg for mercy.	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting how he begged YHWH for mercy
10	מַה־בֶּ֥צַע בְּדָמִי֮ בְּרִדְתִּ֪י אֶ֫ל־שָׁ֥חַת	"What gain is there in my blood, in my going down to the grave?	• "Interrogative"	• "Assertive"	• "Arguing that there is no gain in his death"	• "Arguing that YHWH should heal him"		• The faithful ones will conclude that YHWH should heal David
	הֲיוֹדְךָ֥ עָפָ֑ר	Can dust praise you?	• "Interrogative"	• "Assertive"	• "Arguing that if he is dead, he will not be able to praise YHWH"
	הֲיַגִּ֥יד אֲמִתֶּֽךָ׃	Can it tell of your faithfulness?	• "Interrogative"	• "Assertive"	• "Arguing that if he is dead, he will not be able to tell of YHWH's faithfulness"
11	שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֥ה	Listen, YHWH,	• "Imperative"	• "Directive"	• "Begging YHWH to have mercy on him"	• "Begging YHWH to have mercy on him"		• The faithful ones will recognize that only YHWH can heal David
	וְחָנֵּ֑נִי	and be merciful to me!
	יְ֝הוָה הֱֽיֵה־עֹזֵ֥ר לִֽי׃	YHWH, be a defender for me!"	• "Imperative"	• "Directive"	• "Begging YHWH to defend him"
12	הָפַ֣כְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי֮ לְמָח֪וֹל לִ֥י	You changed my mourning into dancing for me;	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting that YHWH turned his mourning into dancing	Describing the effects of YHWH's deliverance	Vowing to praise YHWH forever	• The faithful ones will conclude that YHWH healed David	• The faithful ones will feel joy in David's deliverance and joy. • YHWH will feel satisfaction in David's repentance and restoration.
	פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ שַׂקִּ֑י	you removed my sackcloth	Declarative	Assertive	Reporting that YHWH changed his grief into joy
	וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי שִׂמְחָֽה׃	and dressed me with joy,
13	לְמַ֤עַן׀ יְזַמֶּרְךָ֣ כָ֭בוֹד	so that people will sing to you "Glory!"						• The faithful ones will know that YHWH's deliverance merits a response of praise from the whole community		• The faithful ones will sing "Glory!" and not stay silent. • YHWH will listen and receive the praise of his people.	• See the background ideas on the congregational gathering of thanksgiving ceremonies.
	וְלֹ֣א יִדֹּ֑ם	and will not stay silent.
	יְהוָ֥ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י לְעוֹלָ֥ם אוֹדֶֽךָּ׃	YHWH, my God, I shall praise you forever.	Declarative	Commissive	Vowing to praise YHWH forever	Vowing to praise YHWH forever				• The faithful ones will join in David's praise	• See the verbal semantic analysis of the cohortative, אוֹדֶֽךָּ.