The Text of Psalm 13:3a
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Introduction
The Masoretic Text of Psalm 13:3a reads as follows:[1]
- עַד־אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י
In the third of four explicit "How long?" (עַד־אָ֨נָה) questions of the Psalm, translations vary on how to understand the verb phrase אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י, as illustrated by the following:
- How long must I suffer anguish in my soul? (REB)
- How long will I store up anxious concerns within me? (CSB)
- How long must I take counsel in my soul? (ESV)
The REB, with quite a passive rendering of אָשִׁ֪ית (lit. "I will put"), suffer, renders the word עֵצ֡וֹת as anguish. The CSB has a more active rendering of אָשִׁ֪ית, though translates עֵצ֡וֹת as concerns. The ESV translates עֵצ֡וֹת more naturally as counsel.
Some have suggested translations such as anguish based on a textual emendation of the MT, such that the word עֵצוֹת is preferably read as plural עַצָּבוֹת or singular עַצֶבֶת. In the following argument maps, we will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of such an emendation before a conclusion regarding the intended sense of the text.
Argument Maps
Textual Emendation
Some have suggested translations such as anguish based on a textual emendation of the MT, such that the word עֵצוֹת is preferably read as plural עַצָּבוֹת or singular עַצֶבֶת.
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[Textual emendation]: The word עֵצוֹת is preferably read as plural "sorrows" עַצָּבוֹת or singular "sorrow" עַצֶבֶת (Briggs and Briggs 1906, 102 :C:; BHS; DCH :L:; HALOT :L:). #dispreferred
- <Waw read as Bet>: Reading עֵצוֹת as in Masoretic tradition if originally עַצֶּבֶת only requires reading the bet as a waw in the consonantal text. #dispreferred
<_ [Orthographic confusion]: The letters ב and ו are rarely confused.
<_ [Paleo Hebrew]: Though unlikely in the square script, it is possible that a scribe could graphically confuse paleo 𐤅 (waw) and 𐤁 (bet).#dispreferred
- <Omission of bet>: Reading עֵצוֹת as in Masoretic tradition if originally עַצָּבוֹת only requires the omission of the bet. #dispreferred
<_ [Scribal error]: There is no text-internal evidence for skipping a consonant in the middle of a word.
+ <Context>: The word "sorrow" best fits the context of the sentence.#dispreferred
+ <Following clause>: The next clause, with the verb elided such that it also borrows "I will put" (אָשִׁ֪ית), contains "grief" (יָג֣וֹן), with the parallel "in my heart" to "in my soul."#dispreferred
+ [Following clause]: עַד־אָ֨נָה אָשִׁ֪ית עֵצ֡וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֗י יָג֣וֹן בִּלְבָבִ֣י יוֹמָ֑ם "How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?" (ESV).#dispreferred
<_ <Zeugma>: The two clauses function poetically as a zeugma, in which the verb "I will put" (אָשִׁ֪ית) is used in two completely different ways.
+ <Peshitta>: The Peshitta contains the word ܬܟܪܝܬܐ "sickness, grief, melancholy" (CAL :L:).#dispreferred
+ [Peshitta]: ܥܕܡܐ ܠܐܡܬܝ ܬܣܝܡ ܬܟܪܝܬܐ ܒܢܦܫܝ "How long will you put sorrow in me? (Taylor 2020, 39).#dispreferred
<_ <Loose translation>: The Syriac translator has rendered the clause according to its expected sense, since the unambiguous verb "I will put" (אָשִׁ֪ית) has been rendered "you will put" (ܬܣܝܡ).
MT (preferred)
The MT, with עֵצ֡וֹת "counsels" should be maintained as the preferred text.
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[MT]: The MT's עֵצוֹת is the superior text and should not be emended to either עַצָּבוֹת or עַצֶבֶת.
+ <Shorter reading>: Scribes were unlikely to delete a consonant to arrive at the word עֵצוֹת, rather than insert the ב if plural עַצָּבוֹת is preferred over עֵצוֹת.
+ <More difficult reading>: Scribes were more likely to emend the text to a word "more suited to ... context" (Briggs and Briggs 1906, 102 :C:)—here, עַצָּבוֹת or עַצֶּבֶת—rather than emend to a word more difficult to interpret in the context—here, עֵצוֹת.
Conclusion (B)
Regarding the alternative emendation, "sorrow(s)," it is less likely that a scribe would select a shorter, more difficult word in the context, if this were not present in the Hebrew text being copied. The suggested emendation requires the omission of a bet or the mis-reading of a bet for a waw. While the suggestion is compelling for contextual reasons—the following clause containing יָג֣וֹן "grief"—the lack of any manuscript evidence or ancient version with such a reading rules out its plausibility. With the textual evidence considered, it is preferable to follow the MT's עֵצ֡וֹת "counsels" and render according to the strict and literal sense of the MT: "How long will I place counsels in my soul?" See our phrase-level note for discussion of this unique idiom in Biblical Hebrew and its sense here.
Research
Translations
Ancient
- LXX: ἕως τίνος θήσομαι βουλὰς ἐν ψυχῇ μου[2]
- "Until when shall I hold counsels in my soul?"[3]
- Jerome (Hebr.): Usquequo ponam consilia in anima mea
- "How long will I put counsels to my soul?"
- Targum: עד אן אשוי מלכיא בנפשי[4]
- "How long shall I take counsel with my soul?"[5]
- Peshitta: ܥܕܡܐ ܠܐܡܬܝ ܬܣܝܡ ܬܟܪܝܬܐ ܒܢܦܫܝ[6]
- "How long will you put sorrow in me?"[7]
- Chrysostem (and possibly Symmachus): τάξω γνώμας[8]
- "... I will appoint resolve...?"
Modern
Suffer anguish
- How long must I suffer anguish in my soul? (REB)
- How long must I bear pain in my soul? (RSV)
- How long must I endure trouble? (GNT)
- How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul? (NLT)
- ¿Hasta cuándo debo estar angustiado? (RVC)
Store anxiety
- How long will I have cares on my mind? (RJPS)
- How long will I store up anxious concerns within me? (CSB)
- How long must I carry sorrow in my soul? (NABRE)
- How long must I worry? (NET)
- How long must I wrestle with my thoughts? (NIV)
- ¿Hasta cuándo tendré conflictos en mi alma? (RVR95)
- Jusqu’à quand aurai-je des soucis dans mon âme? (SG21; cf. NBS, NFC, PDV, TOB)
- Wie lange soll ich sorgen in meiner Seele? (LUT2017)
- Bis wann soll ich Sorgen hegen in meiner Seele? (ELB; cf. EÜ, ZÜR)
Make plans
- How long will I be left to my own wits? (CEB)
- How long must I keep asking myself what to do? (CJB)
- How long must I take counsel in my soul? (ESV; cf. KJV)
Secondary Literature
- Briggs, Charles A. & Briggs, Emilie G. 1906-7. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. New York: C. Scribner’s Sons.
References
13:3 Approved