Day 8

The day is saying: "day to day utters speech, and night to night relates knowledge." (Psalm 19:3)

The night is saying: "to speak of his kindness in the morning, and his faithfulness by nights." (Psalm 92:3)

The verse from Psalm 19 presents the speech of the inorganic world as a conversation with itself, not directed at us, a conversation which we do not so much hear as overhear. 

For me, this text will forever be connected with the music of Steve Reich, who derives tremendous energy from its Hebrew speech rhythms. Reich's "overlapping" style fits perfectly the cosmic antiphon described in the Psalm.  Listen to it on this video, performed by Alarm Will Sound, a fine young chamber group that makes frequent visits to St. Louis.

hashâmayim mesapperiym kebhodh-k'êl 

The heavens recount the glory of God

uma`asêh yâdhâyv maggiydh hârâqiya`

and the sky declares his skill

yom leyom yabbiya` 'omer 

day to day utters speech

velaylâh lelaylâh yechavveh-dâ`ath

and night to night relates knowledge.

'êyn-'omer ve'êyn debhâriym 

Without speech and without words

beliy nishmâ` qolâm

Nevertheless their voice is heard.

bekhol-hâ'ârets yâtsâ' qavvâm 

Their sound goes forth to all the earth

ubhiqtsêh têbhêl millêyhem

Their words to the edge of the world.   (Ps. 19:2-5)