Friday, July 07, 2023

Richard Rolle on Psalm 132:8 and the Ark of the Covenant

Richard Rolle (c. 1300–1349) – The Psalter, or Psalms of David & Certain Canticles, with a Translation & Exposition in English  (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1884)  (pp. 450-51)

8. Surge domine in requiem tuam: tu & arca sanctificacionis tue. ⸿ Rise lord in til thi rest : thou and the huche of thi halighynge. ⸿ Rise fra ded and steghe in till heuen. and thi kirk, the whilke thou halighid ; ryse til luf and life.

AI translation:

Latin:  "Surge, Domine, in requiem tuam: tu et arca sanctificationis tuae."

Modern English Translation: "Arise, O Lord, into Your rest: You, and the ark of Your sanctification."

Middle English: "Rise, lord, in til thi rest: thou and the huche of thi halighynge."

Early Modern English: "Rise from dead and steghe in till heaven, and thi kirk, the whilke thou halighid; rise til luf and life."

Modern English Translation: "Rise, Lord, into Your rest: You and the chest of Your hallowing. Rise from death and ascend into heaven, and Your church, which You have hallowed; rise to love and life."

In the Middle English part, "huche" refers to a chest or box, likely referring to the Ark of the Covenant. "Halighynge" refers to hallowing or making holy. In the Early Modern English part, "steghe" means to ascend, "kirk" refers to a church, and "whilke" means which. "Luf" refers to love, and "life" remains the same in modern English.

I tend to agree with the AI translation here.

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