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ROBERT B. WRIGHT
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1. The Psalms of Solomon : a critical edition of the Greek text / edited by Robert B. Wright.
p. cm. — (Jewish and Christian texts in contexts and related studies ; v. 1)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-0-567-02643-9 (hardcover: alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-567-02643-4 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Psalms of Solomon. Greek—Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Wright, Robert B. U.
Title, ra. Series.
BS1830.P73P73 2007
229'.912-dc22
2007014911
•TAAMOI S O A O M H N T O I 54
l.TaXfAo; T ( i SoXofjLuv 54
2. M-'aXjjLO? Tw LaXo(iQV rcepl 'lepouCTaXirjtJL 58
3.*FaXji6? T(i 2aXco[jL<iv TiEpL SLxatwv 76
4. AtaXoyi^ xoG £aXu[jL(iv zolq av&pw7rapeaxot? 82
5. TaXiiOi; laX<a(i<i\i 94
6. 'Ev SXTILSL TW SaXufxtav 104
7.Tw XaXwjitiv iizia-zpotpf^i 108
8.TM ZaXioniiv EL? vtxo? 112
9.Ti5 liXM|xeiv EL; IXeyx"^
10. 'Ev litivoc? TW 2aXu[i.MV 134
l I . T w SaXujjLuv eU TipoaSoxtav 138
12. T u SaXwjauv £v yXtiffcn; Tixpav6|iov 142
13. Tw SotXwjjiwv 4'3tX[x6? Tt paxXTjOL? Toi Stxattwv 148
14. "Tixvo^ T w SaXtdfXftiv 154
15. <raX(i6; T c i SaX<.>(i<iv i X E i r i (JX-ns 160
16. "Tfxvo^ T i i LaX(d[niv slg dvTtXT;<Jjiv d o t o t ; 168
17. faXtio? T « i^aXufjLuv [XET<i wiS^?" -rw PatotXcl 176
18. iFaXiio? T i i ZxXaiuiy STI TOO XptoToO Kupiou 202
THE PSAI.MS OF SOLOMON
A N N O T A T E D LIST O F EDITIONS A N D T R A N S L A T I O N S O F
THE GREEK TEXT OF THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON 208
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE GREEK TEXT OF THE PSALMS OF
SOLOMON 212
ADDITIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
OF THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON 218
C D - R O M of 350 color images available 223
FOREWORD
to the library of ancient books called the TANAKH, or Old Testament, three
documents are attributed to Solomon: The SongofSolomon, Proverbs of Solomon, and
Ecclesiasles. to the Old Testament Apocrypha another work was known as the work
of David's son: The Wisdom of Solomon, to the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha three
additional compositions were attributed to the wisest man in biblical history: the
Testament of Solomon, the Odes of Solomon, and the Psalms of Solomon. Most experts
claim these seven poetic or wisdom books were attributed to Solomon, as an honor and
because ofthe claim in 1 Kings 4:32 that Solomon composed 3000 proverbs and 1005
songs, fa 240 CE Origen of Alexandria, however, reported that "the Chiu^ches of God"
know nothing about these thousands of Solomonic songs (Cant. Cant. Prologus 36).
to 1626 John Louis de la Cerda published the edition princeps of the Psalms of
Solomon, fa 1895 O. von Gebhardt drew attention to eight Greek manuscripts of the
Psalms of Solomon, fa 1913, the translation by G B. Gray to R. H. Charles' classical
work. The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, was based on
Gebliardt's publication. These 18 psalms were discovered to Syriac manuscripts
beginnmg to 1909. Now, almost one himdred years later, most scholars conclude that
the Psalms of Solomon is a hymnbook composed m Hebrew, to Jerusalem, and
sometime shortly before the reign of Herod the Great (40-4 BCE).
Second, the work contains a reference to the Jewish belief to resurrection and just
before the time of Jesus of Nazareth: 'This is the fate of sinners forever; but those who
fear the Lord shall rise up to eternal life, and their life shall be to the LORD'S light and
it shall never end" [PsSol 3.12]
Third, the composition contains perhaps the locus classicus for belief to a Davidic
Messiah and it antedates by a few decades the Palestinian Jesus Movement: "Look, O
Lord, and raise up for them their ktog, a son of David, to rule over your servant Israel
in the time Uiat you know, O God. He will be a righteous ktog over them, taught
Tut PSALMS OF SOLOMON
by God, there will be no unrighteousness among them in his reign, because everyone
will be holy, and their king will be the Lord Messiah" [PsSol 17.21.32]
James H. Charlesworth
George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature;
Director and Kditor, PTS Dead Sea Scrolls Project
Princeton Theological Seminary
PREFACE
This critical edition of the Greek text of the Psalms of Solomon goes back to my
graduate-school smdy of sacrifice in the intertestamental literature'. One ofthe writings
that contained divergent attitudes concerning sacrifice and the Jerusalem cultus was
the Psalms of Solomon. Utifortimately, no critical edition that included all the Greek
manuscripts listed in RalUfi' Verzeichnis' was available, and, of course, Baars'
collation of a newly discovered fragment in 196P was to be foimd in no edition.
Although work on the present project was protracted because of twenty years of
academic administration, the first phase, a provisional collated Greek text, was
completed in 1974 and privately distributed.* Tliat same year James H. Cliarlesworth
invited me to contribute an introduction and translation to The Pseudepigrapha of the
Old Testament,' that appeared in 1985.
A sage once said: "I have learned much from my teachers; 1 have leamed more from
my colleagues; 1 have leamed most from my smdents."* We are all indebted to a web
of mentors; here are my heartfelt acknowledgments:
• My teachers: Fred Afinan, Charles Smith, John Priest, and G Ernest Wright.
• My colleagues: Robert R. Hann formerly of Florida hitemational University,
whose important study ofthe manuscripts provided mixch of the foundation for
this analysis,' Thomas F. McDaniel Professor Emeritus of The Eastern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Vasiliki Limberis of Temple University, Joseph L.
Traflon of Western Kentucky University, and Kenneth Atkinson of the
University ofNorthem Iowa. Of course, to James H. Charlesworth of Princeton
Theological Seminary, editor of this series, and patient encourager of the
projects.
• My special thanks to Dr. James T. McDonough, classicist extraordinary and
gentle soul, whose encouragement and keen eye helped to bring this project to
completion.
• Appreciation is due also to Professor Marinus de Jonge of the Rijksimiversiteit
' R.B. Wright, "The Spiritualization of Sacrifice in the Prophets and in the Psalter,"
S.T.M. thesis, Hartford Seminary Foimdation, 1964; "Sacrifice in the Intertestamental
Literature," Ph.D. dissertation, 1966.
^ A. Rahlfs, Verzeichnis der griechischen Handschriften des Alten Testaments
(Gottingen: K. Gesellschaft der Wissenschaflen, 1914).
* W. Baars, "A New Fragment of the Greek Version of the Psalms of Solomon,"
I T / ; (1961), pp. 441^(44.
* This provisional collation was later used by Joseph Trafton and included with his
The Syriac Version ofthe Psalms of Solomon: A Critical Evaluation (SBLSCS 11;
Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press/Society of Biblical Literamre, 1985).
' R. Wright, "The Psalms of Solomon," OTP, II, pp. 639-670.
* Rabbi Hanina, b. Ta 'an. 7a, The Babylonian Talmud, Seder Mo'ed.
' R.R. Hann, The Manuscript History of the Psalms of Solomon (SBI.SCS 13;
Chico, CA: Scholars Press, 1982).
» THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
Syriac MS I6I1I: Dr. Dorotliy Clayton, Head of Publications, The John Rylands
University Library, Manchester, England.
Syriac MS 141cl: D. J. Hall, Deputy Librarian, Cambridge University, England.
Syriac MS 16g7; Selly Oak Colleges, University of Birmingham, England. Ms. Meline
E. Nielsen, Deputy Director
The Psahns of Solomon (PssSol), the most important early psalm book outside die
canonical psalter, reflects die turmoil of events in die last pre-Christian cenniry, gives
an apparendy eyewimess account of die first invasionsofthe Romans into Jemsalem,
gives a specific reference to the doctrine ofthe resurrection ofthe dead just before the
beginning of the Christian and Rabbinic periods, and provides the most detailed
expectation of die Jewish Messiah before die New Testament.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The earliest direct historical evidence we have of die Psahns of Solomon is ftom the
fifth century C E . when die 'Tsahns of Solomon, 18" were mcluded in die catalog of
the Codex Alexandrinus. ta that list diey follow die Sephiagint, die New Testament,
and the Clementine Episties. Then position at die very end of the list, after a count of
the total books in the MS, does not tell us if they were regarded as part of a canonical
enumeration, or merely die contents of that MS. They stand, in die words of Rendel
Harris, "m die very penumbra of canonicity." The leaves at die end of die codex diat
^ o u l d have contained the text of the Psalms of Solomon, imfortunately, are missing.
' J.R. Harris, The Odes and Psalms of Solomon: Now First Published from the Syriac
Version, (Cambridge [England], Cambridge University Press: 1909, p. 4 (second
edition, 1911).
' The British Library, ADD Royal MS 1 DV, folio 4; available in: Facsimile of the
Codex Alexandrinus, A\o\&,tA. E. M. Thompson L folio 4 (London: British Musemn,
1879-1883). The index is discussed in Th. Zahn, Ceschichte des neutestamentlichen
Kanons, vol. 2 (Erlangen: A. Deichert, 1890), pp. 288-289. J. R. Harris suggested,
based on his study of stichometry, that the Codex Sinaiticus also may once have
contained the PssSol, on the six missing leaves between the Epistle of Barnabas and
2 THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
The Psalms of Solomon are listed in the Synopsis Sanctae Scripturae of Pseudo-
Athanasius that dates from the early sixth century. They are included with the Odes of
Solomon as "antilegomcna" of the Old Testament, following Maccabees and an
unknown Ptolemaic history, and preceding Susanna.'° They are cataloged among what
we ca]i pseudepigrapha in the six±-centUTy list of "Sixty Books [of Scripture]" at the
end of Anastasius Sinaita's Quaestiones et Responsiones. They follow the canonical
and deuterocanonical books, set between the Assumption of Moses and the Apocalypse
of Elijah.''
The PssSol appear with the Odes of Solomon in the ninth-century stichometry that
is attributed to Nicephorus, Patriarch of Constantinople, where they are foimd between
Sirach and Esther.'^ The PssSol are included among the apocrypha in a tenth-centuiy
Kanons, pp. 120, 144 (Halle: Waiserhauses, 1847). See also E. Schurer.
Neutestamentliche Geschichte, TO, p. 123 (Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1898-1901). Denis
(Introduction, p. xii) suggests, convincingly, that all these lists come from a common
ancestor diat he dates between 400 and 450 C E . There are also later canon lists that
include the PssSol in Armenian (Melchithar of Airivank, 1290) and in six Slavic lists
(I4-16th centiuies). See Zahn, Geschichte, U, p. 202; Viteau, Psaumes de Salomon.
pp. 176-191; W. LiidUce. "Beitrage zu slavischen Apokryphen," pp. 218-235, Z/4IF31
(1911).
" J.-B. Coteher, 5. Patrum. I, p. 196.
'* M.E. Stone, "Armenian Canon Lists UI-The lists of Mechitar of Ayrivank (c. 1285
C E . ) " HTR 63 (1976), pp. 289-300.
There are anumberofother possible references to the PssSol cited in the literature,
but all of diem are accompanied by varying degrees of doubt as to dieir applicability
to die PssSol. hi die fifty-nindi canon of die Council of Laodicea (c. 360 C. E.) die
directive, "6Tt ou Set ISLwriKou^ ij^aXfiou? XeytG&oii ev ^xxXTgatqt, OUSE
dtxacvovcCTTa ^(,[3Xt.tx, diXXa [lova r a x a v o v t x a T ^ ^ TcaXato^ x a l x a t v ^ ;
Siadrpcrii," may be against church use of die PssSol (See Zahn, Geschichte, U, p. 202;
Viteau, Psaumes de Salomon, pp. 176-191). Theodorus Balsamon and Joahnes
Zonaras Christian writiers of the twelfth century, and the fifteen^ century writer
Madiieu Blastaris, believed diat the Council of Laodicea had forbidden die public
reading of the PssSol: Canones synodi Laodicenea (l.Migtie, PGtyoX 144, col 1144;
Vol 137, Col 1420); W. Beverage, Synodicum sive Pandectae Canonum (Oxford:
1672, L p. 480). Likewise, diere may be a similar mandate in Ambrose, Praef. in Lib.
Psalmorum, where he writes: "Salomo ipse David filius licet iimumera cantica
cccinisse dicatiu*, unum tamen quod ecclesia receperit canticorum canticum dcreliquit."
But, neither of these is imambiguously referring to our Psalms. There were numerous
non-canonical psalters in circulation during ± e s e early centuries (See Zahn.
Geschichte, n, pp. 122-123, 140). To die extent diat diese Psalms have been paired
with the Odes of Solomon in some early canon lists and texts, as is shown by the Syriac
M S S , die PssSol may also have been alluded to in die PLvtis Sophia in c. 250 C.E.,
Pistis Sophia. C.Schmidt, tr. V. MacDennot, (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1978). Also, see
i-actantius in the fourth century: H. Ross, Lactantius, Divinae institutiones, Humanitas
Christiana. Lateinische ReUie (Munich: Kosel, 1963).
" Gray (APOT, 628) and Ryle and James (H.E. Ryle and M.R. James, "FAAMOI
S O A O M O N T O X . - The Psalms ofthe Phari.iees. Commonly Called the Psalms of
4 THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
Thus, the direct external evidence for die date of die PssSol takes us back to die fifUi
century C E . Depending upon the date of First Baruch, our psalms' relation to that
writing gives testimony of the existence of the PssSol in Greek as early as the last third
of die first cenhiryC.E.
On internal evidence, the descriptions of the foreign conqueror are concrete to a
degree paralleled only in Daniel and offer die best evidence we have for dating die
Psahns of Solomon. The identifications of die conqueror widi Antiochus
IV-Epiphanes, Pompey, Herod the Great, and Titus have each had supporters.
Nevertheless, most scholars have concluded diat the allusions, when taken togedier,
best match the descriptions in Josephus" ofthe Roman general Pompey, who invaded
" Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities; The Jewish War, 11. Loeb Classical Library. Tr: H.
St. J. Thackeray (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1927, \92%). Antiquities
14.4.1-4 Wars 1.7.1-6; and also Cassius Dio Cocceianus, Dio's Roman History
(London: W. Heinemann, 1914-1927). Franz Karl Movers ("Apokryphen-Literahir,"
in Kirchen-Lexikon. oder Encyklopadie der katholischen Theologie und ihrer
Hilfswissenschaflen, ed. H. J. Wetzer and B. W e l t e , L p. 340 (Freiburg im Breisgau:
Herder, 1847-1882) was die first modem commentator (1847) to date die PssSol to die
first centiiry BCE. He placed die composition at die time of Pompey, however, he
believed die text had been revised later to include die events at die time of Herod die
Great. See also J. Langen, DasJudenthum in PaldstinazurZeit Christi, p. 64 (Freiburg
im Breisgau, Herder, 1866); A. Hilgenfeld, "Prologomena; Psalmi Salomonis" Messias
Judaeorum, libris eorum paulo ante et paulo post Christum natum conscripiis
itlustratus, X l - X V m (Leipzig: Reisland, 1869), E. Schurer, Neutestamentliche
Geschichte, p. 141, A. Hausradi, Die ZeitJesu. I, p. 158 (Heidelberg: Bassermann,
1873), A. Caquot, "Les Hasmon^ens, les Romains et H6rode: observations sur Ps Sal
17" in Hellenica et Judaica, ed. A. Caquot, M. Hadas-Lebel, and J . Riaud, pp.
213-218,(213), (Leuven-Paris: Editions Peeters, 1986), Ryle and James, The Psalms
ofthe Pharisees, p. xliii, F. M. Abel, "Le Siege de Jerusalem par Pompee," RB, 54
(1947), pp. 243 255, and M. Aberbach, "The Historical Allusions of Chapters IV, XI,
and XIII of die Psalms of Solomon," JQR, 41 (Apr 51), pp. 379-396. A. Dupont-
Introduction 5
Judea and captured Jerusalem in the mid-first century BCE" Of all the candidates,
Pompey is the only one who was to die in Egypt (PsSol 2.26), a fact that gives him the
distinction."
Recently, however, it has been suggested tiiat if PssSol 2 and 8 portray Pompey,
Sonmier, The Essene Writings from Qumran (London: Blackwell, 1961), p. 348 saw
parallels with the Damascus Document (CD) and with ± e Commentary on Habakkuk
(IQpHab) in dieir references to die Roman attack under Pompey. See also: Kennedi
Atkinson, "Toward a Redating of the Psalms of Solomon: Implications for
Understanding die Sitz im Leben of an Unknown Jewish Sect." J S O P 17 (1998): 95-
112).
" The next-most-popular hypothesis for die time of composition is diat of die
plundering of Jerusalem under Antiochus IV-Epiphanes i n l 7 0 B C E . S e e G . H . A . von
Ewald, The History of Israel, 2nd ed., p. 301 (London: Longmans, Green, 1880) and
G.F. Oehler, "Messias," in RE, ed. J.J. Herzog, G.F. Plitt, and A. Hauck, cols. 641-655
(Leipzig: Hinrichs, 1881). Also, A.P. Stanley, The History ofthe Jewish Church, T^,
p. 335 (New York: Schribner, 1879), and A. Dilhnann, "Pseudepigiaphen des A.T.,"
RE, p. 341-367. M. Aberbach, "Historical Allusions," found references in die PssSol
to die entire last half ofthe Hasmonean dynasty, ta addition to Movers, odiers who
dated die PssSol to die time of Herod die Great mclude: K.Th. Keim, Geschichte Jesu
von Nazara in ihrer Verkettung mit dem Gesamtleben seines Volkes, vol. L p. 243
(Zurich: Orell, Fussli, 1867), F.J. Delitzsch {Biblisher Commentar aber den Psalter,
n, p. 381(Leipzig, 1860); and, more recently, E. M. Laperrousaz, "Hirode le Grand
est-il«I'ennemi (qui) a agi en 4tranger», des Psaumes de Salomon?" m Politique et
religion dans le judaisme ancien et medieval, ed. D. Toilet, pp. 29-32 (Paris: Relais-
Desclte 7,1989). E. Bengel, Opuscula Academica. ed. J.G. Pressel (Hamburg: Apud
Fridericum PerUies, 1834) placed die PssSol after die desmiction of Jerusalem m 70
C E . The earliest datmg of die PssSol was made by K. G. Bretschneider, Die
historisch-dogmatischeAuslegung des Neuen Testaments, pp. 121 -122 (Leipzig: J. A.
Barth, 1806) who saw die hand of Nebuchadnezzar's desctaction of Jerusalem m die
PssSol. Heinrich H. Ewald, who placed die PssSiol at 320 BCE and identified die
mvader as Ptolemy I, Die jSngsten Propheten des Alten Bundes, ffl, p. 269 (Gottingen:
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1868). H. Wtackler was alone ta seekmg to identify the
historical psalms (2, 8, 17) with the turbulent political situation imder Jason as
described in 2 Mace 4 - 5 , "Jason und die Zeit der Psahnen Salomos," Altorientalische
Forschungen Nr. 2, pp. 556- 564 (Leipzig: F.duard Pfeiffer, 1901). J. Ttomp identified
the "sinners" of PsSol 17 with the Romans but the expected foreign mvaders m vss.
7-9 as die Pardiians, ' T h e Sinners and die Lawless m Psalm of Solomon 17," NovT
35 (1993), pp. 344-361). A fairly diorough analysis of die leadmg contenders and die
evidence available until 1891 was prepared by Ryle and James, The Psalms of the
Pharisees, pp. xxxix-xHv. The latest comprehensive review of the scholarship is by
K. Adtinson, An Intertextual Study of the Psalms of Solomon Pseudepigrapha
(Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2001).
" See also K. Adcinson, / Cried to the Lord; A Study of the Psalms of Solomon's
Historical Background and Social Setting, p. 22 (Leiden: Brill, 2003).
6 THE PSALMS O f SOLOMON
then PsSol 17 better describes Herod die Great and die Roman general Sosius' 3 7 BCE
siege of Jerusalem. This equates Herod widi both die "man alien to our race" (PsSol
17:7) and die "lawless one" (PsSol 17:11)." The invective "a man alien to our race"
is much more a pejorative when applied to Herod dian to any foreigner. PssSol 4,12,
and 15 describe inter-Jewish disputes apparently earlier than Pompey. PsSol 7 is
reacting to the threat of a possible Roman intervention, andtheauthor pleads that God
would not allow die Gentiles to invade, thus clearly predating Pompey's arrival."
If die conqueror of PssSol 2 and 8, mdeed, is Pompey, and die "alien" of PsSol 17
describes Herod, then the events alluded to in these psalms span the time between just
before Pompey's invasion in 63 B C E, through his deadi in 48 BCE, to Herod's
extermination ofthe remaining Hasmonean leaders in 30 BCE.
This analysis suggests diat diere were several audiors and probably a redactor
involved in the creation of the Psalms of Solomon.^^
A redactor would have edited the collection and shaped its final form. He selected
a core of "historical" psahns composed over diree decades, fiom approximately 65 to
30 BCE, spanning the time from before Pompey through Herod. He appended the first
The PssSol, by tide superscriptions and tradition, are either ascribed or dedicated to
Solomon, although diere is no reference to him widim die poems themselves. The
similarity between the most prominent psalm (PsSol 17) and the canonical Psalm 72,
s t e a d y known as a "Psahn of Solomon," may have prompted the editorial ascription
to the one who, next to David, enjoyed a reputation as a poet (1 Kgs 4.32 -34; Heb:
5.12-14).
Because of its unusual prominence, diere is litde doubt Uiat Jerusalem is die venue
ofthe Psalms of Solomon." Jerusalem is the locale of many events. The corruption of
the Jerusalem leadership (PsSol 4) and the anticipation of God's blessings on the Holy
City (PsSol 11) reinforce this conclusion. Jerusalem is addressed (PsSol 11), speaks
(PsSol 1), and is die seat of die Sanhedrin (PsSol 4.1).
The audiorship of die PssSol has most often been atnibuted to die Pharisees," but
" . Blackburn, Rollin J. "Hebrew Poetic Devices in die Greek Text of die Psalms of
Solomon." Temple University, 1998.
" Few have dated die PssSol to C E . 70 or later. P. D. Heutius, in 1694, found
evidence of a date later dian die First Centiiry, C. E. See P.D. Heutius, (AKA: Huet),
Demonstratio Evangelica ad Serenissimum delphinum, 4 ' ed., p. 397 (Leipzig: J.
Thomam Fritsch, 1694). R. Ceillier saw Titiis' destruction of die Temple reflected in
the PssSol, Histoire Generate des Auteurs Sacres et Ecclesiasgtiques, V, p. 136(Paris:
Luis Viv^s, 1858). Later, Bengel agreed widi Ceillier (Opuscula Academica, p. 395).
" See Ryle and James, The Psalms of the Pharisees, xc. On die Egyptian venue for
the Greek translation, see Denis, Introduction, p. 63. On the question of the origin of
die Syriac ti'anslation, see below.
^' See Ryle and James, The Psalms of the Pharisees, p. Iviii-lix.
" Ryle and James, 77ie Psalms of the Pharisees, p. lix; J. Wellhausen, Die Pharisaer
und die Sadducder, p. 139 (Greifswald: L. Bamberg, 1874); E. Schurer, A History of
the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, p. 21 (Edinburgh: Clark, 1894); Gray,
APOT, n, p. 630; S. Matiiews, "Psalms of die Pharisees," in A History of New
Testament Times in Palestine, pp. 96-98 (New York: Macmillan, 1899,1918); T. W.
Manson, The Servant-Messiah, p. 21 (London: Cambridge (Enghmd) University Press,
1956); and R. B. MuUer, "Messias und Menschensohn m jfldischen Apokalypsen und
in der Offenbarung des Johannes," SNT, 6 (1972) p. 76, n. 58. See also J. Klausner,
, THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
flat identification must now be abandoned." CMher scholars have linked die PssSol to
the Hasidim," to die Essenes," or, if one stiiys witii die evidence available to date, to
The Messianic Idea in Israel from Its Beginning to the Completion ofthe Mishnah, p.
392. (New York: Macmillan, 1955) These identifications, it now seems, were driven
by the obvious realization that these psalms could not have been composed by
Sadducees. G.E.W. Nickelsburg, after surveying the evidence, concludes diat diere is
much in die PssSol diat fits what is known about die Pharisees and nodiing diat does
not. He locates the PssSol, then, in circles close to the Pharisees (Jewish Literature
between the Bible and the Mishnah: A Historical and Literary Introduction, pp. 204,
212 (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1981), a conclusion echoed by K.E. Pomykala, The
Davidic Dynasty Tradition in Early Judaism: Its History and Significance for
Messianism, SBLEJL (Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1995). For a vigorous defense of a
Pharisaic origin, see J. Schiipphaus, Die Psalmen Salomos: Ein Zeugnis Jerusalemer
Theologie und Frommigkeit in der Mitte des vorchristlichen Jahrhunderts, ch. 1
ALGHJ 7 (Leiden: Brill, 1977). See also die review of Schupphaus by R.B. Wright in
CSe41 (1979) pp. 657-658. Most recendy, M.Winninge, Sinners and the Righteous:
A Comparative Study of the Psalms of Solomon and Paul's Letters (Stockholm:
Ahnqvist & Wiksell, 1995). See, e.g., p . 180..
^ See the thorough analysis and reftitation of the arguments in favor of Pharisaic
audiorship in J. O'Dell, ' T h e Religious Background of the Psahns of Solomon Re
evaluated in die Light of die Qumran Texts,"/!evg 3 (May, 1961) pp. 241-257. For
odier objections see: O. Eissfeldt, The Old Testament: An Introduction, tt. P. R.
Ackryod p. 613 (New York: Harper and Row, 1%5), and A. Bentzen, King and
Messiah, ed. 0 . W. Anderson (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1970). As G. Stemberger,
Jewish Contemporaries of Jesus: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes (Minneapolis:
Fortiiess Press, 1995) reminds us: "...The designation Pharisee is not found before Paul,
or the name Sadducee before Mark's Gospel....This means diat die earliest explicit
statements about Pharisees and Sadducees were first written at a time when they had
ceased to exist."
" J. Liver insisted in 1959 tiiat die audior of die PssSol must have been a "Chasid"
or one of the "Chasidim of the Pharisees," who, contrary to most Pharisees, were
opposed to any regime not ofthe House of David (J. Liver, The House ofDavidfrom
the Fall ofthe Kingdom of Judah until the Destruction of the Second Temple of
yemya/em (in Hebrew), p. 143 Jenisalem: Magnes and Hebrew University, 1959.See
also O'Dell, "Religious Background"; H.R. Moeller, The Legacy of Zion:
Intertestamental Texts Related to the New Testament, pp. 44-47, 131-151,199-203
(Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977), and O. Ploger, Theokratie und Eschatologie, p. 16
(IVMANT).
" As early as 1887, J. Girbal suggested diat die PssSol were written by a pietist
group of the first Essenes, the "Khassidim:" Essai sur les Psaumes de Salomon,
(Toulouse: A. Chauvin et Fils, 1887). J. E. H. Thompson firmly identified these psalms
widi die Essenes (Thomson, Books Which Influenced Our Lord and His Apostles:
Being a Critical Review of Apocalyptic Jewish Literature, , pp. 268ff, 423ff
(Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1891). See also A. Dupont-Sommer, Essene Writings, p.
Introduction '
"some unknown eschatological group in Jerusalem."" While few have suggested
Qumran as a locale for the PssSol, many have pointed out similarities to various Dead
Sea Scrolls." The PssSol have been attributed to die Sadducees" or even to die
" H. Graetz, Ceschichte der Judder von den Altesten Zeiten, 2nd ed. 111, p. 489.
(Leipzig: O. Leiner, 1888) attributed die PssSol to a Christian author, an ascription he
omitted in die diird edition (HI, p. 621). See also J. Efi-on, "The Holy War and Visions
of Redemption," SJLA 39, pp. 219-286, Ed. J. Neusner (Leiden: Brill, 1987), and "The
Psalms of Solomon, The Hasmonean Decline and Christianity," (pp. 219- 286), both
in Studies on the Hasmonean Period(BnU: SJLA, vol. 39: 1987). P. A. Alpe saw die
PssSol as a product of die Pharisees and believed diat, because of dieir use of
messiaiuc imagery drawn fiom die Hebrew Bible, diey are to a degree higher dian all
odier apocrypha to be understood as a bridge between the Old Testament and die New
Testament, "Christologia in Psalmis Salomonis. "VDW Fasc. 2 - 4 . 1 9 3 1 , pp. 56-59,
84-88,110-120). Despite its title, die article is a general discussion of die PssSol and
their importance for understanding the fimction of Christology in the NT.
" MS 769 had a marginal note, now lost, of indeterminable date, at 2:25 diat appears
to be a Christian comment on a verbal lirdc between die dragon of diis verse and tiiat
of the Book of the Revelation. Von Gebhardt preserved the text of this note in his
major edition. Die Psalmen Salomo 'j, O.L. von Gebhardt (1844-1906), "FAAMOI
S O A O M Q N T O S . - Die Psalmen Salomo's zum ersten Male mit Benutzung der
Athoshandschriften und des Codex Casanatensis. Texte imd Untersuchungen zur
Geschichte der altchristiichen Literatur, XHI, pt. 2, p. 96, note 1 (Leipzig: J. C.
Hinrichs, 1895).
" Addnson, / Cried to the Lord, p. 7.
" A. Geiger ("Aus Briefen," JOdische Zeitschrifi fUr Wissenschafi und Leben, VI,
1868, p. 240), could not decide on the group responsible for the PssSol and saw them
as the product of the controversy between Pharisees and Sadducees.
See Wright, "The Spirimalization of Sacrifice."
Introduction >i
hymns were used in synagogue services." Of course, these liturgical directions, too,
may be from the pen of a redactor, in emulation ofthe Biblical Psalms.
In terms of genre, apart from the obvious echos ofthe biblical Psalter, has been the
assertion that die PssSol were in conscious imitation of the "City-Lament" form to be
found in Lamentations, itself reflective of Ancient Near Eastern models."
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE
The Psalms of Solomon, according to most scholars, were composed in Hebrew, very
soon afterwards tiranslated into Greek," and sometime later into Syriac." There are no
" The Syriac fragment, MS " S " , is a marginal note on a seventh-century copy of the
"Hymns of Sevenis." The earliest Syriac fragment has usually been seen in this
marginal note. It has now been determined that this intertextual note was made by
Jacob of Odessa, sometime later, probably from memory. This fragmentary marginal
note is therefore not regarded as part of the textual history of the PssSol. (Prof.
Sabastian Brock, Oxford University, personal correspondence, January 8,2002)
** Ryle and James, The Psalms of the Pharisees, pp. Ixxviii-lxxxi; Gray, APOT, p.
627. See also R.J.Blackbum, "Hebrew Poetic Devices in the Greek Text of the Psalms
ofSolomon." Temple University doctoral dissertation (Temple University Department
of Religion, 1998).
*^ Hann, The Manuscript History, pp. 36-40.
*** R.A. Martin, Syntactical Evidence of Semitic Sources in Greek Documents,
SBLSCS 3. 1974.
A. Hilgenfeld ("Die Psalmen Salomo's und die Himmelfahrt des Moses, griechisch
hergestelh and erklart," ZWT / / [1868] pp. 133-168; and Messias ludaeorum,
"Prolegomena"), refuted by J. Wellhausen (Die Pharisaer und die Sadducder, pp.
135f) and by Ryle and James (The Psalms of the Pharisees, pp. Ixxxiv-btxxvii); O.
Zockler, "Die pseudepigraphische Lyrik: Der Psalter Salomos," in his Die Apokryphen
des Alten Testaments nebst einem Anhang iiber die Pseudepigraphenliteratur, c d H.
Strack and O. Zockler, 1, pp. 9 , 4 0 5 ^ 2 0 (Munich: Beck, 1891). Earlier, P. D. Huetius.
{Demonstratio Evangelica, and G. Janenski, Dissertatio historico-critica de Psalterio
Salomonis prceside Neumann publicte disquisitionis, ed. J. G Neimiannus, 8, p. 274
(Wittenberg: Neumann, 1687) had assumed, bul not argued for, a Greek original.
W. Frankenberg, Die Datierung der Psalmen Salomos. Ein Beitrag zur JOdischen
Geschichte, BZAW, 1, 1896). Apparently, Wellhausen attempted a Hebrew back-
translation, but either he had "not committed it to wriring" (Ryle and James, The
Psalms of the Pharisees, p. xvii), or it was "not printed" (J.H. Miller, "The Psalms of
Introduction 13
historical or linguistic value.
The Syriac has usually been seen as a U'anslation from tiie Greek text," although
some have suggested that there is evidence that the Syriac may have been influenced
by a Hebrew text.** New philological research now strongly suggests that the Syriac is
indeed a direct translation fiom an early Hebrew text,*' perhaps with some reference to
die Greek.
The most notable featiffe of the Syriac is its attempt to smoodi difficult readings, hi
many passages where the Greek text is troublesome and the MSS readings diverge, the
Syriac gravitates toward Greek MS 253 and its group." The texts of Wisdom and Skach
that are also preserved in MS 253 and its group are part of the Syro-hexaplaric text
tradition. This fact may reinforce similarities between diis group of MSS and the Syrian
Christian community diat preserved diese Syriac Psalms and attached diem to die Odes
ofSolomon.
T H E G R E E K MANUSCRIPTS
M S 253 (= von Gebhardt [vG] "R," "Codex Romanus") is Vaticani Graeci 336 of die
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Rome. It is dated to the eleventh century.*' The
MS 260 (= vG "H"; = Ryle & James "K,"" "Codex Havniensis"") is Gamle Kongelige
Samling 6 of die Kongelige Bibliotek of Copenhagen." It is dated to die tendi or
elevendi centimes." The parchment codex of232 folios (ten quires have been lost from
the beginning of the MS) measures about 36.5 x 27 cm with about 21.5 x 14.25 cm of
inscribed surface in one column (folios 2r-82v), and in two columns (from folio 84rto
the end ofthe MS). The manuscript is in excellent condition with some minor staining
on die parchment. The color of die parchment is Pantone 12-0605 (Angora). The text
ink is Pantone 19-1314 (Seal Brown). Unique among this group of MSS, the engrossing
is in gold ink, Pantone 16-0836 (Rich Gold), in places faded to Pantone 16-1325
(Copper). It contains the book of Job with a catena in the margin. Proverbs.
Ecclesiastes, Canticles (all widi marginal commentaries). Wisdom ofSolomon, PssSol,
and Sirach widi a Prologue." Folio 83r is blank, and folio 83v contains a full-page
colored illustiation representing King Solomon." The text of die PssSol is found on
holding another scroll with both hands. As the illustration is positioned in the MS
immediately before the group of five "Solomonic" writings, it is often interpreted to
pertain to the collection of works traditionally identified with him: The old man may
be one of the men of Hezekiah, who, according to Proverbs 25, copied the proverbs of
Solomon. In this interpretation, the woman would be napot,(i,t.a personified. But
because the old man is gesturing with a motion similar to that ofSolomon, as if he
were his near equal, some have suggested this figure represents Jesu Sirach, whose
writing follows those ofSolomon in this MS. In this case, the woman would represent
Socpia personified (See Mackeprang, Greek and Latin Manuscripts, p. 2, and Bruun,
Aarsberetningen).
Von Gebhardt, Psalmen Salomo's, pp. 19,23.
Hann, Manuscript History, p. 64.
" B . Schartau.. Codices Graeci Haunienses: Ein deskripiver Katalog des
griechischen Handscnftenbesandes der Koniglichen Bibliothek Kopenhagen , p. 53
(Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum, 1994).
^ From a series of subscriptions on folio 232r, one can reconstruct some of the
history of this manuscript: "aTto T(,VO(; xaXo&eTOu," "(acquired) fi-om (a member of
the family) Kalothetes." The manuscript came into the possession of Lukas Notaras,
Duke of Constantinople in the fifteenth century (Rahlfs, Verzeichnis, p. 91). He was
commander-in-chief ofthe Byzantine fleet and was executed by Sultan Mohammed
II after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The MS then was obtained by one Georgios
Kantakuzenos (d. 1456), to whom the family Notaras was related by marriage. He
took it fi-om Constantinople in 1453 to Smendervo (Semendria) [aixevropoPw] in
Serbia. The next note is indisrinct (perhaps unfinished), and may have told how the MS
arrived in Venice. While in that city, it came into the possession of Urganus, a monk
in the monastery of St. Nicola, in Venedig (Venice), who is described in the note as a
"grammarian." The MS was purchased at Venice in 1699 by a Frederik Rostgaard
(1671 -1745), and acquired at auction in 1726 by Graf Christian Danneskjold Samsoe.
\n 1732, the Royal Library in Copenhagen acquired the MS (Mackeprang, Greek and
Latin Manuscripts, p. 2).
The Greek Manuscripts 19
Kdnigliche Hofbibliothek).'- It is dated to the tenth or eleventh century.** The parchment
codex of 166 folios measures 35.75 x 27.5 cm with 20.25 x 14.5 cm of inscribed
sur&ce in two columns, each 63 mm wide. The parchment is colored Pantone 12-0605
(Angora). The text ink is Pantone 15-1512 (Misty Rose [tan]), and the engrossing is
Pantone 16-1526 (Terra Cotta). Twenty-two pages are lost between folios 33 and 44.
The MS was rebound in white parchment in 1755. The MS contains catenae on Job and
Proverbs, then Ecclesiastes and Canticles (with marginal commentaries), Msdom, the
PssSol, and Sirach. The text of the PssSol is found on folios 105v II 8r.^ The text of
PssSol in this MS is a close replica of MS 260, written in the same hand.** The MS was
collated by von Gebhardt himself who identified it as a copy of MS 260. Iota addscripts
are used. They are not regarded as variants and appear in our collation as subscripts.
" Rahlfs, Verzeichnis, p. 213. There is a colophon o n folio 446v that mdicates diat
die codex was prepared under die pattonage "TOU rcavcuYEveo-caTou xupioO
MaxSatou IlaXatoXoYOU TOO A a a x o p t , " "Of die most noble Lord Matdiew
Palaiologos of die Laskaris (family)." (Ryle and James, TTie Psalms of the Pharisees,
p. XX). The royal Palaiologos and die prominent Laskaris fanulies were influential
Byzantine names dating from as far back as the 11th century.
These initial letters were originally written in red, and then many were overwritten
in black. The black of these bi-color letters is not always a complete letter. Thus it is
less likely that the letters were black, overwritten in red. The black-over-red
combination color is Pantone 18-1443 (Redwood).
" Rahlfs, Verzeichnis, p. 95.
" W. Baars. "A New Fragment," p. 441.
2- THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
"Aca^j/aXfxa," with the title: "4<aXjxO(; xta aaXopov A series of corrections was
made on the MS based on de la Cerda's text by a Fr. Junius." The psalms are numbered,
possibly by the same Fr. Junius. These corrections and emendations are not to be
considered for inclusion in this critical text, but are noted as later annotations. This MS
was not available to von Gebhardt.
The MSS ofthe 260 group are also a text group in Wisdom and in Sirach, and have
been identified with the Lucianic recension.*"
M S 629 (=vG *'C" =Swete "c"), "Codex Casanatensis," is number 1908 of the
Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome.'* It is dated to the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries.
The paper codex of 310 folios now measures 37.5 x 24 cm,"" with 27 x 11.5 cm of
inscribed surface in one column. The original folio size was, apparently, ca. 20.75 x
33.5 cm. Among many other texts, the MS contains a catena on the canonical Psalter,
and the PssSol The text of the PssSol is badly preserved and the folios containing 1.1-
2.26 and 16.9 -18.12 are missing. The remaining leaves contain only PssSol 2.27-16.8.
found on folios 303r'307v."'^ Color readings ofthe MS show the original leaves to be
Pantone 14-1213 (Toasted Almond), the ink ofthe text to be 17-1430 (Feather Gray),
and the engrossing to be 17-1818 (Red Violet). The now darkened areas are 18-1031
^ The earliest extant manuscript fiagment ofthe PssSol, the index entry of the titie
in the Codex Alexandrinus, gives the count as ' i H " = "18." MS 3004, alone among the
MSS, has verse numbers that, however, match none ofthe printed editions. Because
these numbers ignore the superscription for PsSol 19, and continue the numbering for
Psalm 18, they are judged to be secondarily added by someone who had access to
another MS (no longer extant) that had such a verse-numbering scheme, but one that
did not divide Psalm 18. The verse numbering in MS 3004 also divides PsSol 17 into
51 verses (we now recognize 46) and the twelve verses of PsSol 18 into eighteen. This,
of course, simply describes manuscript 3004. How earlier copies ftuther up on the
genealogical tree divided the PssSol is another question.
^ K.A. de Meyier, Codices Manuscripti VI Codices Vossiani Graeci et Miscellanei,
p. 254 (Leiden: Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit, 1955). A marginal note at PsSol 18.6
reads: "Cerda interpretatur, regno: ~ . " The corrector also made three emendations
himself (see Baars, "A New Fragment," p. 29).
Ziegler, Sapientia Salomonis, p. 48; Sirach, pp. 56, 70.
Rahlfs, Verzeichnis, p. 234.
One manuscript index measiu-ed the folios at 384 x 249 mm (Francesco Bancalari,
"Index codicum graecorum bibliothecae Casanatensis," in Studi Italiani di Filologia
Classica, ed. F. le Monnier, vol. 2, pp. 161 -207, ref. on 203 (Florence: Sansoni, 1894).
The MS has two schemes of page-numbering: a handwritten enumeration in the
upper right comers of the recto sides and a later series stamped in the lower right ofthe
same leaves. The written numbers of the leaves containing the PssSol run fix)m 302r
to 305v. The stamped numbers are consistent with the present binding and are used
here.
The Greek Manuscripts 23
(Toffee).
Von Gebhardt used a collation provided to him by Johaimes Tschiedel of Rome
prepared against Fritzsche's edition.'"
The M S is in poor condition, tom, stained into illegibility in many places, oflen widi
whole leaves nearly unreadable.'" The badly worn leaves have been subjected to a
restoration."" They have been remounted, renumbered, and the whole rebound. Modem
photographic techniques allow us to now read nearly die entire text."* On folio 307r,
a p o r t i o n o f its text of 14.1-14.4a is reproduced in the right margin.""
M S 769 (=vG "L"), Codex 5 of the Benaki Museum in Adiens, is listed in Rahlfe'
Verzeichnis'" as number 1485 of the Great Lavra monastery on Mt. Adios.'"* It is dated
to the twelfdi to the fourteenth century. The paper codex is in fair but fragile condition.
with fiayed edges, worm or acid holes, and other damage."" The codex of 311 folios
measures 22.0 x 18.0 cm widi 18.0 x 14.5 cm of inscribed surface in a single column.
The paper is Pantone 13.1010 (Gray Sand). The text ink is Pantone 19-1217 (Mustang
[dark brown to black]) and die engrossing, only die tide of die MS, is Pantone 18-
1441 (Baked Clay). The M S contains a commentary on die canonical Psalms, the Odes
ofSolomon with a marginal commentary on the first ode, the PssSol, and a commentary
on Canticles by Cyril of Alexandria. The PssSol are found on folios 294r-304v. Von
Gebhardt used a collation prepared by a Mr. Alexandres made against Hilgenfeld's
text."' That the manuscript has been rebound since von Gebhardt's time is evident from
die incomplete remnants of a note in die outside margin at 2.25 on folio 295r, a note
that von Gebhardt quotes in fiUl."* The leaves have been renumbered (Ir to 1 Iv) and
trimmed, and the vestige ofthe note is now but a column, two or three characters wide.
The MS was stolen from the Lavra Monastery on M t Adios at die tiira of die twentieth
century and auctioned to the Benaki museum in 1931 The text uses iota addscripts.
MS 336
MS 336 (=vG ' T ; =Swete "T") is number 555"' of die Iveron"' monastery of M t
Athos. It is dated to the fourteenth century. The paper codex of 327 folios is in good
condition, widi only a few worm (?)holes. It measures 24.5 x 17.0 cm with 19.5 x 12.5
cm of mscribed surface. The paper is the color of Pantone 12-1006 (Cream Pearl). The
text ink is Pantone 19-0000 (Raven) and die engrossing is Pantone 17-1558
(Grenadine). It contains most of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, Wisdom,
Sirach, die PssSol, and scholia on Ecclesiastes, Canticles, and Proverbs. The text of
die PssSol is found on 227r-245v. Two leaves are missing (between folios 233 and
' " When Medieval inks were improperly mixed they produced a highly acidic, or
encaustic, ink which over the centuries has slowly burned its way through a great many
manuscripts. (See: "Medieval and Renaissance Book Production: Manuscript Books,"
by R.W. Clementin ORB: the Online reference Book for Medieval Studies, at:
htai://www.ukans.edu/-^xx)khist/medbookl .html. Last accessed 6/1/04) This
apparently explains some of die damage to die parchment of MS 769 where at the
begitming of the PssSol the internal part of the initial " E " is missing, indeed it is a
hole. One might easily attribute this damage to worms with a literary taste. But it is
more likely from acidic ink that burned away die initial, engrossed letter. Thus, die
black ink, that shows no such erosion was of more stable formula, and the red ink used
for the decorative engrossing, was more caustic and has damaged the parchment.
234) that contained PssSol 5.14b-8.12a."'' The text ofthe PssSol ends at 18.4 (widi:
"..iv a-Yvot.qt") and is immediately followed, widiout break and in die same hand, by
a unique text of Sirach 33.1-13.'-'A copy of this text ofthe PssSol was provided to von
Gebhardt by Philipp Meyer in 1886, who had discovered it.'" Von Gebhardt noted die
end ofthe text of die PssSol, but neither he nor his informant recognized die following
text as being of Sirach. MS 336 does not employ either iota subscripts or iota
addscripts. Often die red mk of die engrossing imprints from die facing page.
M S A (Codex Alexandrinus)
This fifth centmy uncial codex ofthe Septuagint and the New Testament is the oldest
direct historical evidence we have of die Psalms of Solomon. Aldiough die text of die
PssSol has now gone missing, the title appears in the index of the MS's contents:
ToXfAOL SoXo[iwvTO? LT;. AS the Oldest fragment of the text of the PssSol by half a
millennium, it give us the base text for the title of the collection, and an early coimt for
the total number of poems in the collection.'"
STEMMA
The first published stemma was prepared by Ryle and James'" and showed the
relationships of four manuscripts. Von Gebhardt's edition used eight,"' and Begrich
" ' R a h l f s ' Verzeichnis (p. 13) lists die lacuna as from 5.10 to 8.13. The text, in fact,
ends at 5.14 with "...[isvx /p7)aT6T7]Tog," and resumes at 8.12 with "jcotl kv
dtcpsSpM...." Thirty-two verses are missing, approximately the equivalent of two leaves
(four pages). Ink-blot impressions from the recto of the following sheet (beginning at
8.12b) do not appear on die verso of the preceding sheet (as is common elsewhere),
and the ink blots appearing on the preceding sheet are different from the now-facing
sheet. This means diat die missing sheets were in die original MS, and diat die lacuna
was not a scribal omission, but diat die sheets were lost before the leaves were secured
in their present binding. The folios were numbered after rebinding without regard for
die missing leaves. There are eight instances where die initial letter of a line of script
has been omitted (3.12, 9.6, 11.7, 13.8, 13.10, 13.11, 15.0, 17.4). For reasons
discussed above for MS 471, these omissions are considered to be production errors,
not texhial variants and dius are not included in die apparanis of diis edition.
Discovered in 1974 by Robert B. Wright and Robert R. Hann. See "A New
Fragmem of ± e Greek Text of Sirach," JBZ. 94:1 (1975) pp. 111-112.
Von Gebhardt, Psalmen Salomo's, p. 28.
' " Codex Alexandrinus is British Library Royal 1 D.v-viii. Volumes v, vi, and vii (as
presently bound) contain die Old Testament, volume viii die New Testament.
Originally given to the English by Cyril Lucar, at various times patriarch of Alexandria
and Constantinople.
Ryle and James, The Psalms of the Pharisees, p. xxiv.
Von Gebhardt, Psalmen Salomo's, p. 39.
26 THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
A Augustan us
(Augsburg)
The following chan represents the differing numbering schemes of die manuscripts
of die PssSol diat display psahn or chapter numbers:
1. A — A TtpwTO? A — A
2. B B B B B B
3.
- r
- .. -
1 r
4. r A -
r •ce-vapTOS r A A
5. A E A TteiJlTtTO? A E E
6. E
7. c. -
Z
E
c. -
--
E
z
c
z
8. z 0 Z z II H
9. 0 0 0 -0 0 0 0
10. I I 1 I I I I
11. lA lA lA lA lA lA lA
12. IB IB IB IB IB IB
13. ir ir ir - ir ir ir
Sexaxo^
14. lA lA lA lA lA lA lA
15. IE IE IE IE IE IE m
16. K K K ic; K IC
17. IZ IZ IZ IZ IZ IZ
18. m IH IH
- IH- IH IH
19. - - 10
- -
Only MS 769 counts and maiics all its psalms in the numbering and divisions
adopted by die printed editions. No manuscript has paragraph divisions. MSS 471
(except for Psalm 3), 655, and 659 have no psalm or chapter numbers. The numbered
leaves of MS 336 between 5.14b and 8.12a are missing, but the numbering is
odierwise intact, suggesting die MS was originally complete. PsSol 13, lacks a
number, but the correct count continues.
MS 336 numbers die first psalm "Flpwro?," the fourth as " T e t a p T o ? A," the fifUi
as "KEjiTtTO?," and the thirteenth as "TpiT05 x a t 8£X(XTO;."MS 149and260 appear
to count PssSol 2 and 3 together as number " B , " with no numeric character at Psahn
3. MS 253 identifies PsSol 5 as " E , " skips die count for Psalm 6, and marks PssSol
8 and 9 both as " 0 . " MSS 149 and 260 employ die stigma %" for Psahn 7 and MS
769 uses it for Psahn 6 (all numbered MSS use "IC'Tor Psalm 16). All the MSS pick
up a common numbering at Psalm 9, " 0 . " MS 253 at Psahn 10 has a small sketch of
a bird where the psalm number would have s p e a r e d . The deteriorated state of MS
629 makes identifying die psalm numbers difficult, so, as suggested above, von
30 THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
Gebhardt's text has been consulted where the MS is unclear. MS 3004 begins its text
at 17:2b, numbers PsSol 1 8 a s " I H , " and marks its unique division ofthis psalm, after
vs. 9 "Si.aij)a>.|«t," to form PsSol 19, as "I©." Whedier or not diey have superscripts
or psahn numbers, all of die manuscripts have die initial letter of each psalm
capitalized, oilen in a color contrasting widi die body text. MSS 655, 659, 769 and
3004 have only these capitalizations, with no paragraph divisions. MS 336 has
enlarged marginal letters placed every two or diree lines, often in mid-word,
apparendy solely for die sake of ornamentation.
The PssSol, like many early manuscripts, originally had no paragraph divisions. As
noted above, a few of the MSS have capital letters in the left margins of the body of
die psahns that may be indications of sense divisions, hi the 250 group, MSS 260 and
149 have many of these internal capital letters, some fifty-one in ail, occasionally with
a logical connection to die sense of die text. However, in odier places diere appears
to be little concern if die maiginal letters occur m die middle of a sentence, or even
in the middle of a word, a practice apparently common in manuscripts from this
period. MS 471, as was observed above, has locations for many marginal letters
marked, but the engrossing is incomplete. What capital letters exist, and where marks
for the missing letters are discernible, the pattern follows that of MSS 260 and 149.
MS 606 has far fewer internal capital initials (sixteen) and widi one exception
(11.7), tiiese are always among diose to be found in MSS 260 and 149. The
similarities between diese manuscripts in dieir use of enlarged marginal letters
conform with the thesis of the identity of Manuscript Group 260.
The first extant published edition of die PssSol, the 1623 text of Johannes Ludovici
de la Cerda,'" has no paragraph divisions. Without precedent in the manuscripts, all
editors apparently have divided the psahns according to dieir understanding of die
logical sense of the text. This edition has generally followed these common
agreements, but occasionally has made its own judgments.
The division of verses and the numbers assigned to them in this edition are aligned
with those of Rahlfs' Septuaginta, that itself follows von Gebhardt.'" The earlier
enumeration of de la Cerda's edition, appearing in die Syriac editions of Harris and
Mingana, and later in Baais' was used by Ryle and James, and by Gray, and is foimd
in small figures in the left margin of von Gebhardt's text. Gray's edition prints von
Gebhardt's verse numbers widun parendieses.
The supeiscriptions to the psalms are of unknown date and provenance. The
The Hebrew version of die PssSol probably had no individual tides. These most
likely were added some time later, in ftuther imitation of die biblical Psalter.
Likewise, the early Greek texts cither translated the Hebrew superscriptions, or created
their own. Few ofthe titles echo anything going on within the psalms themselves. The
connection widi die "Son of David," found in PssSol 17.21 probably inspired die
original author or the Greek translator to caption most of the psalms as '*Of Solomon."
Certaitdy he selected the name ofSolomon because of I Kings 4.32 where it says that
Solomon composed several thousand proverbs and songs. So, Solomon's name
became attiiched to die collection. This was part of the "cover story" for these political
poems that could deftect the authorities' wrath, much as the authors of Daniel and
The Revelation and odier political writers hid dieir attacks under famous names.
We know from the biblical Psalms that many times the Hebrew preposition W-
appears ahead of a name or a title. As the preposition can mean "by," "of," "to," "in
honor of," "for,"or "belonging to," the sense of the title is not always clear. The
preposition li- occurs in the expressions "to die choirmaster" or "for die leader" in
55 psalms, and in these cases it probably indicates a liturgical instruction, not
authorship. In the Hebrew text, 73 psalms include in the tide, U dvd from which we
get die ti-axiitional ascription of audiorship: "Of David."
At die end of die 19th Centiuy, Ugaritic tablets from Ras Shamra were discovered
containing poems having die tide: le-Ba'al, tianslated: "to Ba'al." This was
understood as dedication, not authorship. Clearly the Canaanite deity was no lyricist.
On the odier hand, as Moses is o-aditionally credited with not only die
Commandments on Sinai, but with the entire Torah, and David has been cotmected
widi the entire Psalter, so diese poems have been attiibuted to David's Son, die Great
and Wise Solomon. Certainly the author and/or editor knew these poems, describing
contemporary national and world events, did not come fi-om the king, then a thousand
years distant. By attaching die King's name to tiiese psalms he created a
"Pseudepigraphon." If this was the editor's intent, we can translate the phrase: "Of
Solomon."
If the editor was inconsistent with his spelling of "Solomon/Salomon" we may not
be able, nor even need, to determine why. It is said that Shakespeare, in his own hand,
spelled his simiame fourteen different ways.'"
1. M'otXiioi. SoXo[iMVTo; is the title ofthe collection, taken from the reading of Codex
Alexandrinus, the oldest extant reference to die PssSol. Three related MSS, 253,
655, and 659, have die tide; £o(pta SoXofjuivo?. PsSol 1 usually has no separate
tide however MS 336 reads: TocXjio? ™ SaXoiiuv Ttputoi;. M S 4 7 1 hasatitle
only for PsSol 3.
2. TaX[x6?TW 2aXo{iwv Tiepl TepouaaXi^fx: A Psalm of Solomon about Jerusalem.
3. "FaXfio? TO i;«Xu|xov rtepi. Stxatwv: A Psalm of Solomon about die Righteous.
4. AtoXoYTl TOU 2^aXo)(xa)v xol? av&pomapeaHO',^: A Dialogue of Solomon with
Hypocrites.
5. ^FaXjjLO^ Tw SaXwfjWov: A Psalm of Solomon.
6. "Ev eXictStTO SaXw|iuv: hi Hope, Of Solomon.
7. SaXw[juov ^rctoTpocpT)!;: Of Solomon. Restoring.
The modem history of die Psahns ofSolomon'" begins sometime before 1604 when
die Augsburg librarian David Hoschel discovered a text of die PssSol in a manuscript
diat he had obtamed from die Vienna library (that ostensibly had been obtamed from
Constantinople'"). This was evidently our MS 149, for Hoschel reportedly used it for
his 1604 publication of Ecclesiastes, leaving notes in his handwriting in the margins
of diat MS. Hoschel wrote to die Vienna library several times between 1609 and 1614
reporting on his work and telling tiiem that he intended to make a copy of dieir MS
ofthe Psalms of Solomon. Hoschel ended his prodigious publication career in 1614,
apparently because of ill healdi,'" and offered several manuscripts to his friend and
collaborator, Andreas Schott.'" Schoti reported in correspondence dated September
24,1616, that Hoschel had offered a text of Cyril of Alexandria (in which Schott was
gready interested)'" and a "ttanscript copy" of Solomonic writings, including 18
Psalms of Solomon. This copy contained a "personal mark" of Hoschel's, that
suggested its source.'"
This reconsmiction of die complex history of die early texts of the PssSol.
particularly the problem of the exemplar of de la Cerda, is based on an essay by
Joseph McGovem, "The Stanis of MS A of the Psalms of Solomon: A Re-
Examination of Von Gebhardt's Thesis.""' In 1713, Fabricius reported that the MS
diat we now know as number 149 was back in the Vienna library.'"
Some had argued that de la Cerda used a now-lost "Augsburg" manuscript as the
basis for his edition of die PssSol.'* Yet die series of catalogs of die great Augsburg
library froin 1575, 1600, 1633, and 1812 contau) no references to any MS of the
P s s S o l . T h i s reconstruction by von Gebhardt and McGovem appears to resolve most
of die difficulties in tiacing the source of de la Cerda's exemplar. Because de la
Cerda's text does not represent a ti-adition different from the extant manuscripts
(except for his errors and idiosyncmtic emendations), his variants are not included in
die present edition. De la Cerda's text may be seen in die available CD of MS
photographs.
Johannes Eusebius Nieremberg published PssSol 1,18, and part of 17 w i ± a Latin
translation and a brief preface in 1641. G Janenski issued the text of PssSol 1 and
11 widi die Latin text of de la Cerda in 1687."' In the same year Jo. Georgii Neumann
edited a text in Wittenburg.""
Johannes Alberms Fabricius brought out an edition in 1 7 1 3 d i a t reproduced bodi
de la Cerda's Greek text and his Latin translation and corrected a few of his more
egregious misprints. Fabricius noted the existence of MS 149 in Vienna"' but
apparently failed to use it. He published a second edition in 1722, only slightiy
changed.'*' William Whiston produced the first English translation that appeared in
"The Psaltery ofSolomon."'" An anonymous German tianslation appeared in 1742
m the Berlenburgische Bibel.'*' For a century and a half, these limited editions were
From scattered references in the literature, one learns of other texts and
translations diat have appeared through the years: a German ttanslation, reported by
Viteau (Psaumes de Salomon, p. 242, n. 1) to have been described by Fabricius (Bibl.
Craeca. vol. XIV, 16211) to have appeared m Leipzig in 1716, was also noticed by E.
Geiger (Psalter Salomo's, 6). There have been at least two other French translations,
one by E. Jacquier, "Les Psaumes de Salomon," in L 'Universite calholique (Lyon: n.p.,
1893), Vol. Xn, and anotiier by A. Peyrollaz, "Le Psaurier de Salomon" in RTF,
Lausanne: G. Bridel, 1899), Xx3cn, pp. 493-511. Otiier German ttanslations include
one by a Dr Richard Akibon (pen name of Ludwig Noack) appeared in Achtzehn
Psalmen Salomo's welch sich in unserer Bibel nicht finden: aus einer
gehaimgehaltenen Schrist in's Deutsche Ubertragen (Cassel: J. C. J. Raabe, 1850),
mentioned by E. Geiger (Psalter Salomo's, p. 6), and Viteau (Psaumes de Salomon,
p. 242). Another allusion to a translation by S. G. Neumann in a 1687 "dissertation
spiciale" is found in Migne's Dictionaire des Apocryphes, ou Collection de tous les
Livres Apocryphes relatifs a l'Aru:ient et au Nouveau Testament, L col. 940 (Paris:
Barri^re d'Enfer, 1856). J. Winter and A. Wiinsche, Geschichte der jOdisch-
hellenistischen und talmudischen Litteratur, first volume in the series. Die jOdische
Litteratur sell AbschluS des Kanons, pp. 687-696 (Treves: Mayer, 1894), published
a translation of PssSol 1,9, and 17, based on de la Cerda, Fabricius and Hilgenfeld. hi
this same publication Winter and WGnsche, citing Fabricius (Codex Pseudepigraphus),
claim diat die Vienna MS (149) came to Europe in 1615, a date diat appears in no
other source. All these, apparently, were based on de la Cerda's text. A Russian
ttanslation appeared in 1896, by A. Smirnoff: "Psahny Solomona 6 prilozenijem od
Solomona.," ("The Psalms of Solomon, with an Appendix Containing the Odes of
Solomon"), appcared'mPravoslavnyj sobesjednik. (Kazan: The Ecclesiastical/Church
Academy) 1896, that, again, was based on von Gebhardt's edition.
"'Hilgenfeld, "Himmelfahrt," pp. 133-168.
Hilgenfeld, Messias ludaeorum.
J. Haupt, custodian at the Royal Library in Vienna, provided him with a collation
of MS 149, quite inaccurate, as it appears Olilgenfeld, "Himmelfahrt," p. 136; von
Gebhardt, Psalmen Salomo's, p. 9).
A number of the conjectural emendations made earlier by Hilgenfeld and de
Lagarde were later confinned by a comparison with MS 149 (von Gebhardt, Psalmen
Salomo's, p. 9).
The History of Seholarship 37
and of what they called MS "A" (de la Cerda's text), revealing then- belief in die
separate identity of die so-called "Augsburg" manuscript. Their copy of MS 471 was
m places defective and as von Gebhardt observed, "they rarely accepted readings not
based on a manuscript."'" Ryle and James were die first to attempt to construct a
stemma, a graphic representation of their judgments as to the relationships of the
manuscripts."' LUte E. Geiger and Wellhausen before them, Ryle and James made
conjectures as to the text of a Hebrew archetype and made some comments on how
certam terms would have been timslated into Greek.'" Ryle and James surmised,
based on dieir examination of PsSol 18, diat at one time die psahn may have been
divided into tivo, forming a nineteenth psahn. Their deduction was at least partially
confirmed widi die discovery some decades later of M S 3004 that does, in fact, create
an additional psalm by dividing PsSol 18.'" Otto Zockler prepared a brief introduction
and a ttanslation for his volume on die Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in 1891.'"
hi 1894, H. B. Swete, besides usmg MSS 149, 260,471, and 606, was die first to
use MS 253 fi-om the Vatican Library, that he made the basis of his edition.'*-
The landmark edition of the PssSol by Oscar von Gebhardt diat appeared in 1895
has served as the standard critical edition for more than a century. His work reduced
prior editions to historical curiosities, and his text has been die basic text of reference
for virtually all subsequent analyses of the PssSol. A major contribution by von
Gebhardt to the smdy of the PssSol was the first recognition that certain manuscripts
could be organized into text groups. He could do this because, first, he had access to
more manuscripts than any of his predecessors. Then, having finally thrown off the
weight of die textus receptus status accorded de la Cerda's editio princeps by so many
prior editors, von Gebhardt was free to consider the relationships of the manuscripts
diemselves. Beyond die discovery of die virtual identity of MSS 149 and 260,"' his
comparative smdy of the MSS readings revealed a discrete and identifiable text group
composed ofMSS 149,260,471 and 606.'" Further, von Gebhardt concluded that MS
253 has preserved the greatest proportion of the earliest readings, as that text exhibits
grammatical peculiarities characteristic ofthe oldest and best biblical manuscripts."**
From these analyses he produced a stemma that displayed die relationships between
die manuscripts and dieir relative chronology. So convinced was von Gebhardt of die
coherence of these text groups that in his collation he allowed MS 260, for example,
to represent the readings of die group 149-260-471-606, and, unfortunately, often
omitted unique readings of what were, for him, dependent manuscripts.
In 1896 W. Frankenberg prepared a reconstruction of what aHebrew text might
have looked like.'" Swete's second English edition in 1899 added die new MSS
included by von Gebhardt: MS 336, 629, and 769."' Emil Kaucisch published a
translation by R. Kittel with introduction and notes in 1900.'** A brief (56-page) study
by Felix Perles appeared in 1902 diat compared some verses in die back-tiMslations
of Delitzsch and Frankenberg."" Jacob Ecker published a Greek text, with translation
and notes in 1903."" Johannes Lindblom published his doctoral thesis in 1909"' diat
included a Swedish ttanslation. All these were dependent to some degree upon von
Gebhardt.
In 1909 J. Rendel Harris brought out the first Syriac edition, one based on a single
MS (a second edition, widi a photographic reproduction ofthe Syriac MS, appeared
n 1911).'" hi 1916 (volume two in 1920), widi Alphonse Mingana, he published a
J.R. Harris and and A. Mingana. The Odes and Psalms ofSolomon, re-edited for
the Governors of the John Rylands Library. Vol. I, The Text with Facsimile
Reproductions (Manchester: University Press; London; New York: Longmans, Green
&Co., 1 9 1 6 ) ; V o l . n , 7"ranj/a/ionw/r/i/nft-miKCriona«rfJVo(es(Manchester,England:
Manchester University Press; London/New York: Longmans, Green & Co., 1 9 2 0 ) .
"* Viteau, Psaume<i de Salomon.
Gray, George Buchanan, "The Psalms ofSolomon," APOT, e d R. A. Charles n
pp. 6 2 5 - 6 5 2 (Oxford: Clarendon, 1 9 1 2 ) .
Kuhn, Die dlteste Textgestalt.
" ' Begrich, "Der Text der Psahnen Salomos." This smdy included a stemma of die
relationship between die Greek and die Syriac text ti'aditions (p. 1 3 9 ) .
Pesch, "Die Abhangigkeit," pp. 2 5 1 - 2 6 3 .
" ' Baars, "A New Fragment."
M. de Jonge, De Toekomstverwachting in de Psalmen van Salomo (Leiden: Brill,
1965). Reappeared as "The Expectation of die Futtire in the Psahns of Solomon," in
Neotestamentica 2 3 . 1 ( 1 9 8 9 ) , pp. 9 3 117; and in Jewish Eschatology, Early
Christology arul the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: Collected Essays of Marinus
de Jonge (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1991).
The History of Scholarship *'
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, ed. David Noel Freeman, pp. 1239-1240
(Grand Rapics: Eerdmans, 2000).
D O C T O R A L DISSERTATIONS IN R E C E N T YEARS
C O N C E R N I N G T H E PSALMS O F S O L O M O N :
Von Gebhardt had access to eight MSS, only foin of them that he had examined
himself (149,253,471, and 606). In these four texts the editing is of high quality with
few transcriptional errors. Where von Gebhardt was supplied collations by odiers
(MSS 260,336,629, and 769), transcriptional irregularities are much more numerous.
Since von Gebhardt's edition in 1895, three new manuscripts have appeared that were
not available to him: two MSS, 655 and 659, indeed, appear in Rahlfs' 1914
Verzeichni f s that were foimd concealed under the title SocpLat XOXO|JUOVTO?.'" In
1961, W. Baars armounced die discovery of MS 3004,'* These have all been included
in this edidon.
Von Gebhardt, as was observed above, employed the practice of using what he
judged to be the senior member of a manuscript group to represent the entire group.
For example, in using die text of 260 to represent die readings of MSS 149,471, and
606, he included references to these latter manuscripts only occasionally, and not even
where die variants departed from MS 260. Von Gebhardt was probably correct in
concluding diat MS 260 (or its near twin, 149) is die direct ancestor of die odier
members of its group. However, if one needed the manuscript evidence to test the
stemma or to propose a new one, or if new analytical techniques were developed to
study the text and its variants, such an incomplete collation would then be deficient.
To use an analog from archaeology, today excavators preserve as much of die primary
data as possible, even if diey are uncertam of its interpretation, so diat subsequent
scholars may prepare their own historical reconstructions. With the exceptions noted
below, diis edition is the first to include die full readings of all twelve known extant
manuscripts.
The mediods employed in die editing of this edition follow established text-critical
principles. The stemma proposed by Hann"' is based on a new analysis of the
relationships of all die readings of the twelve known Greek manuscripts. This analysis
was supported by an application ofthe so-called "Claremont Profile Method" for the
classification of minuscule manuscripts.'* Using the Claremont mediod to confirm die
basic manuscript groups, Hann analyzed the textual characteristics of the individual
wimesses and of dieu- text types and then examined die relationships among die
manuscripts and betiveen the groups."" From dus die history of die texmal
transmission was reconstructed. The result is a ste/tuna reassuringly similar to that of
von Gebhardt,™ but widi die additional MSS included.
hi die preparation of diis edition, the metiiod began widi external criteria and
moved to mtemal, and only readings that satisfied the requirements of both were
considered closest to die intermediate "original" diat we are seeking. Readmgs diat
were genealogically blocked in their path to our archetype could not be original.
External criteria were always considered superior to mtemal, and the latter were
govemed by the principle of giving weight to the reading that best explains the origin
of the other readings. Both Intrinsic Probability and Transcriptional Probability were
considered in each case, along widi hitemal Evidence of Documents, of Groups, and
of Readings. In a few cases, a reading that is today considered lexically impossible is
included in the base text, because it is the reading that best explains the origin ofthe
other MSS readings.^"' None of the other readings, if adopted as the base text, could
explain the readings of the remaining manuscripts. One cannot assume the inerrancy
of an original extrabibiical text (no matter what one's theology) nor can one assume
a fonn is impossible because it cannot be found in modem lexica. What results is a
reconstruction that displays the characteristics of what a text closer to the original
translational autograph might have looked like. With this reconstruction comes the
caveat that none of our complete extant manuscripts is nearer than nine hundred years
to what the psahnist(s) penned or to what the Greek translator rendered, and most are
more than a millennium away. Given this situation, resort was never made to
conjectural emendations, tempting though they are.
This present edition includes comparisons with the Syriac MSS at places where
there are significant differences from the Greek readings or where the Syriac agrees
with one or more of the Greek text families, against others. As there is an excellent
critical edition of the Syriac MSS available,^ there is no attempt here to judge
between variant readings of the Syriac wimesses. The Syriac evidence normally
^jpears at the end of a line of variants, except where it is close to one of the Greek
readings, in which case it follows that Greek variant, linked with an equal sign (=).
From what can be determined, von Gebhardt did not use photographic
reproductions of MSS but relied on hand collations from the manuscripts obtained
from colleagues or made by himself. Without the possibility of cross-checking against
photographs, he was dependent upon the skill of the collator ^ d would have had
diflRculty corroborating even his own work. Von Gebhard saw only four manuscripts
himself
This edition initially worked from microfilm photographs generously supplied by
the archives that preserve the manuscripts. At the final stage, this editor, during a
seven-week research trip during the summer of 1999, personally visited each of the
libraries, museums, and monasteries, and compared every variant ofthis collation with
the manuscripts themselves. The editor also re-measured the manuscripts, and took
™' See, for example, 15.5, where the base text reads, ^XoyTjawtiaL, a form that is
lexically impossible. Clearly, this was of considerable difficulty to the scribes, as the
MSS offer five different readings to correct the perceived problem. As none of the
other MS readings, if adopted as the base text, could easily produce the other readings,
this '^impossible" reading is adopted as the reading "that best explains the origin ofthe
otherreadings."Seealso,St.'r)p7T:a^oKiav,at8.11 andx^TfipovotALaataotv, at 8.6. Bruce
Metzger, discussing Karl Lachmann's 1842-50 critical edition of the Greek New
Testament, observes: "h was not a l w a ^ appreciated that Lachmann did not pretend
to print the original text of the New Testament, but only a provisional one, namely that
current in tiie fourth century, including even palpable scribal errors if sufficiently well
attested." (7?ie Text of the New Testament, 1963, p. 125). Likewise, Metzger observes:
"It must not be overlooked, however, that though some anomalies are the result of
corruption in the transmission of the text, other anomalies may have been either
intended or tolerated by the author himself." (Text..., p. 182). See also "The Critic
Correcting the Author," i>A//o/ogus, 99 (1955), pp. 295-303).
Baars, "Psalms of Solomon."
Kfferences in this Edition 47
color readings of die parchment or paper and die inlts against die Pantone®
Professional Color System,"" die color standard in die graphic arts. New color
photographs were obtained or made by diis editor and edited into a CD ROM
containing all 350 leaves of die Greek and Syriac MSS. Copies of die CD are
available. See the notice at the end of this volume.
Computer technology certainly intioduces die possibility of its own errors, but it
does allow the rapid manipulation and reproduction of text while reducing the
opportimity for the insidious introduction of new errors at each occasion of
transcription.
This collation was begun widi die electi-onic text of Rahlfs' Septuagfnta, as provided
by die C C A F " archive, from which were removed von Gebhardt's and Rahlfs'
conjectural emendations. The variants from all twelve manuscripts were added,
maintaming die CCAT "Word Variant" data file serial format. To proofread die edited
text, a program was run against the master data file that created an electronic
reconstruction of what the text of each manuscript should contain."" These
reconsmictions were dien proofread using a speech syndiesizer to read die
electionically reconstructed texts ui Greek, character-by-character, against
photographs of each manuscript. Widi a unique program,'* die serial data files, still
in the CCAT format, were then configured into pages and the variants into foomotes.
The pages were then ported mto a word processmg program tiiat arranged die text and
foomotes into the appropriate margins and headings. The foomote numbers, both in
die text and m die foomotes, diat normally appear m word-processmg programs, were
hidden as part of the formatting to conform to the standard page layout for a critical
text. The pages were again twice proofread against the manuscript photographs.
Finally, as mentioned above, all variants were personally verified by this editor against
each of the original manuscripts.
Thus, dus edition differs fiom previous ones by die inclusion of all twelve known
extant manuscripts, and of all of the variants from these MSS, by the addition of
significant variants from die Syriac wimesses, and by what is hoped to be a greater
reliability in die manipulation of die text in its preparation. The Greek punctiiation
follows MS 253.
To facilitate the final cotnpaiison of the collated text with the extant manuscripts,
several of the graduate students acknowledged in die "Preface" above, assisted in die
prepararion of twelve booklets, each representing die text of one of die manuscripts.
These booklets matched die MS folios, page-for-page and line-for-lme. Widi diem any
word in any manuscript photograph could be located quickly in the printed text. These
booklets are included in die CD contaming die photographs.
The translation, found on the pages opposite to die Greek text, presents a rendering
of the psalms into contemporary English that attempts to preserve an accurate
representation of the meaning of the Greek: The English is intended be no more, but
also, no less, ambiguous than die Greek. Where die audior appears to be ambiguous,
the attempt was made to preserve these sometimes enigmatic ideas. Likewise, care
was taken not to use terms diat would inttoduce later, often anachronistic concepts,
and to assure diat the terms used were at home in the edios at die Turn of die Era.
This is a translation of the extant Greek text. There have been recent studies
demonsttating diat in many places die Greek has misunderstood or misttanslated a
Semitic term that may have underlaid our text. Or, that the Syriac may have preserved
a clearer or even preferable rendering of diat Hebrew vorlage."' In many places these
arguments are cogent and even persuasive. In fiirther smdies, many of these arguments
could be developed to give us a better understanding what ti'anspired before die Greek
text appeared. But this is an edition of the extant Greek texts, not a reconstruction of
a presumed Hebrew Uriea.
A word about the translation of "Lord Messiah."'" The phrase, a tendering of the
Greek xpt-oxo? xupto?, is a tide for die expected messianic king first appearing in
PsSol 17.32.'" Most commentators haveemended the text to read: XptoTo; Kuptou,
' T h e Lord's Messiah," regarding it as a misttanslation (widi die LXX of Lam 4.20)
of an original, common Hebrew expression, "Yahweh's Anointed."^'" However, there
is evidence for retaining die readings of die text:
The Greek and Syriac MSS are uniform in reading "Lord Messiah." There is no
manuscript evidence for a reading of / p t a x o ? xiiptou a common expression in the
LXX. The arguments that •^larot; xupto? caimot represent the original text rest on
the assumptions that: (1) the Semitic original was a form of mrr' rroD and, (2) that
Ward, Grant, A Philological Analysis of the Greek and Syriac Texts of the
Psalms ofSolomon (Philadelphia: Temple University Depamnent of Religion
doctoral dissertation, 1995. Sec also, Joseph L. Trafton, The Syriac Version of the
Psalms of Solomon: A Critical Evaluation. ABLSCS no. 11, (Aflanta, G A: Scholars
Press/Society of Biblical Literattue, 1985).
On Messianism in the Psalms of Solomon, see Atkinson, / Cried to the Lord.
chapter 4, p. 129ff and also, "On die Herodian Origin ofMilitant Davidic Messianism
at Qumran: New Light from Psahn of Solomon \1."JBL 118(1999): 435-460.
A different form, XpLoroO Kuptou, not ± e emendation often suggested, appears
in 1 S.sup., and 18.7. Here, with tivo genitives togedier, it could indeed be rendered: "of
the Lord's Anointed." But this is a grammatically different construction.
See: K. Adtinson, / Cried to the Lord, p. 131-132, fii 2 where he defends die
emmendation., and provides an extensive bibliographic survey of the question.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
phrase, in the mouth (or from the pen) of a Judean Jew, could only have meant "the
Lord's Messiah."
Against these asstunptions are the following: (1) Lk 2.11 demonstrates that xpuoro?
xipioi was available for use as a messianic tide by die first century C E . (2) Luke
brings die two tiUes in proximity in Peter's sermon in Acts 2.36 where he declares diat
"God has made him (Jesus) both Lord and Messiah." (3) There are references in which
xiipto? is not a translation of nf but part of a royal title: Herod die Great and Herod
Agrippa were bodi called PaotXeu? xiipto?, "Lord King.""'
As the adjectival use of xiipto; also could have had die connotation "legitimate,"
it is not inconceivable that a group of religious and poHtical dissidents, such as those
behind die PssSol, would have described die anticipated righti^ous messiah-king by
diat adjective and widi die phrase xP'^TO? xupto?, so to deny legitimacy to die
present corrupt rulers.'"
The assumption that^toTO^ xuptog was an impossible combination to flow from
die pen of a devout Judean Jew is to read x p t o t o ^ in terms of its meaiung for later
Christology and not in terms of its use as a political titie in its own time. Certainly the
related tide "King Messiah" was known to die later Jewish ti'adition. It is attested in
GenR 2:4 and applied in LamR 2:4 to Simon bar Kokhba. When Rabbi Akiba saw
Simon bar Kokhba, it is reported diat he said: ' T h i s is die King Messiah!""'
CRITICAL MARKS
See R.R. Hann, "Christos Kyrios in PsSOL 17.32: 'The Lord's Anointed'
Reconsidered," ATO, 31 (1985), pp. 620-627.
See: "legitimate, regular, proper." in Aeschylus. Ed. A. Sidgwick, Oxford
(OCT). Scholia, Ed. W. Dindorf in Editione Aeschyli, Oxford 1851. Scholia m
Aeschyli Persas, Ed. O. Dahnhardt, Leipzig (T.) 1894; die Oxford Greek Lexicon, H.
G.Liddell, 1888.
^" J. Taanit 4:68d See also Y. Yadin, Bar-Kokhba (London: Weidenfeld and
Nicholson, 1971) and J.A. Fitzmyer and D.J. Harrington, A Manual of Palestinian
Aramaic Texts, pp. 158-163 (Rome: Biblical histimte Press, 1978). Odier Talraudic
references include: Gen 3.15 (Pseudo-Jonadian): "They are destined to make peace at
die end, in die days of King Messiah;" Gen 35.21 (Ps.-J): "And Jacob moved on, and
pitched his tent onward to the tower of Eder, the place whence the King Messiah is
destined to reveal himself at the end of days;" Gen 49.1 (Ps.-J): "As soon as the date
of the End when the King Messiah woidd arrive was revealed to him..." S.H. Levey,
The Messiah: An Aramaic Interpretation, Monograph of the Hebrew Uition College
2: Cincinnati: 1974.-cited widi chart at AWOT: 108.]
50 THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
MSS groups are shown within parendieses, e.g: 260 (149 471 606). Variants are not
normally accented. Thus, MSS readings differing only in diacriticals are not regarded
as variants, and do not appear in the apparahis. However, where die accents appear to
be of some signifrcance in a MS reading, they are included.
Manuscripts often display "corrections," letters added above or below the text,
especially at die ends of Imes. In most cases it is difficult to determine if diis was an
intentional notation by the original scribe, an error that he"* noticed and immediately
corrected, a rectification by his overseer, or an emendation by a later scribe. Unless
the modification is clearly made with a different ink, a distinguishable hand, or other
unmistakable marker of a subsequent scribal amendment, these "corrections" are
regarded as part of the original scribe's work, and not considered as subsequent
critical variants.
As far as can be determined, diere is no evidence that any of die scribes who
labored over these manuscripts was a woman.
List of Abbreviations
VT Vetus Testamentum
IVMANT Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen Testament
WMANT Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen Testament
ZA W Zeitschriftfiir die alttestamentliche Wissenschafi.
ZNW Zeitschrift fur die neutestamentliche Wissenschafi
ZWT Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche Theologie
ZWT Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftlice Theologie
53
MS 260-83V
King Solomon on his throne, with Sophia (Wisdom) behind and Ben Sira below
1. H^OtXfJLOl. 2oXO(J.WVTO? A
' "Dedicated to Solomon;" "to" or "for" Solomon. The singular is assumed to be the
older title, before the collection was assembled. This collation attempts to reconstruct
an intermediate version ofthe text, after the collecting. This plural title, used in our
oldest extant reference, in the index list of Codex Alexandrinus, is employed here, as
we attempt to create an intermediate version of these psalms.
^ The speaker is Jerusalem personified as a woman. Sec vs. 3.
^ "Cried out," "Screamed out;" an anguished shout.
* There is no article before "Lord," but there is before "God" in the next line. The
Hebrew antecedent, as in the LXX, was probably YHWH. The convention in English
Bibles to print " L O R D " in large and small capital letters to represent the Sacred Name.
However, we are translating the Greek text, and we have no Hebrew antecedent.
Therefore, we transliterate the word as "Lord" as in LXX translations and in the NT.
* Gk: "squeezed to the end." It may be durative ("continually/endlessly
completely"), or intensive ("severely."), or refer to the author's endurance ("to the
limit"); here and in 2:5.
^ Gk: "was heard right in front of my face."
' Gk: "filled with righteousness."
* Gk: "considered in my heart."
' Two ofthe covenantal markers of God's blessing and ofthe people's
righteousness.
"Their:" the ruling class and citizenry of Jerusalem; see vss. !. 1 and 1.8.
'' Gk: "wealth," the source of their influence.
See2Macc4.18ff; 1 Mace 10.4; Josephus, Ant 13.10fr
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
5. gw;]om (655 6 5 9 )
ECTav] e l i t o v 769
1. ' E v T W U7cep7](paveuea9at, t o v a f x a p x w X o v ev x p t w
x a T E ^ a X e tel^^t; oxupdt, x a l o u x e x w X u o a ; -
2. a v e p T j a a v ^Ttl t o S u a L a a T i - p L o v a o u e&vT] a X X o T p - . a ,
x a T e n a T o u a a v ev uTCoST^fiaaLV a u T w v e v UTiepTjcpavla*
" Syr: "on a feast day." See Atkinson, / Cried to the Lord. p. 23.
Gk: '^nations belonging to another/foreign (god)."
Gk: avofALotLq "lawless," here and elsewhere.
^ Gk: "do not give them a p l e a s a n t path." Other MSS r e a d : " t h e r e is no s w e e t o d o r i n
them;" "not fit (to be offered);" Some editors e m e n d : "I am not pleased w i t h them.."
^ THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
5. TO x d X X o ; r ^ ; SO^Y]; a u T o O -
e^ou&evciOT) EVWTTLOV TOO &eoO-
T^TLfiwOT; l u ; ei.; TEXO;-
6. 01 ulol x a l ai d u y a T E p e ; EV a l ^ a X o K r l q c TrovTjpa.
ev CTcppaylSi.- 6 T p a x 7 ] X o ; a u T w v ,
I v £T:!,OT^tJW!> E'y '^o^i; e & V E a t v
7. K a T a Ta; a f i a p T l a ; auTwv iizoir^arj a u T o l ; -
6TL eyxaTeXiTTev auTOu; e l ; yeipoa; x a T L o x u o v T w v
8. aTisaTpetj/EV ycup TO TrpoawTtov a u T O u
aTTO EXEOU; a u T w v
vEov x a l 7rpea^uT7]v x a l T s x v a a u T u v e l ; aiia^-
^' The phrase "beauty of His glory" may refer to the Temple (as in Isa 60:7). or to the
Temple draperies and tapestries (as in Isa 6:1), or to a thcophany in the Temple (as in
Ezek 1:28; 10:18).
^' Cik: "in God's eyes."
" Syr: "her sons and daughters." See Atkinson, / Cried to the Lord, p. 37.
" Or: "a spectacle among the Gentiles." See 3 Mac 2:29; SibOr 8.244. Syr: "the
people's sealed yoke is put around their neck."
" Gk: "he mmed his face away."
« THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
eTtoLTjaav] ETtolTjaev 6 5 5 *
EL; ocTta^'"'] ( v G = £ l a a ; r a ^ )
9. l ^ a p u ^ t A T j a e v ] ^^apuOutxTiOE 2 5 3 2 6 0 (149 4 7 1 6 0 6 )
e^SeXu^aTo] ^SeXti^aTo ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
in ] 655m
T a l ; avofxlat.;] T a ; a v o j i l a ; (655 6 5 9 )
PsSoI 2
because they all sinned alike, for they would not listen.
9. The heavens were appalled, and the earth loathed them.
Because no one had ever acted as they.
10. The world will know all your judgments; diey are just, O God.
19. The Gentiles hinniliated Jemsalem when she was trampled down;
He"' dragged her beauty from her once magnificent dirone.
20. She was wrapped in sackclodi instead of beautifij clodies;
a rope was around her head instead of a wreath.
21. He snatched the crown of glory that God had put on her.
Her beauty lies in disgrace; it was flung down upon die earth.
22. And 1 saw all this and pleaded in the Lord's presence:
1 said: "Make it stop. Lord!
By bringing in the Gentiles
you have laid your hand heavily upon Jerusalem."
" The allusion appears to be to the Gentile Pompey and his soldiers. S y r "was
dragged down."
^ THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
26. 1 did not have long to wait imdl God showed me his arrogance.
Stabbed" on die sand dunes" of Egypt,
he was more despised dian anydiing in die whole world."
27. His body was violently carried over die waves
and there was no one to bury him,
because God contempmously despised him.
3 4 . (leoovj [ieowv 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
3 5 . iXe^(TaL]lXe^aa; ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
Tanei-vwaew;] T a u T j v w a e w ; ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
ifAapTwXou] +a7roSoGva[. ajxapTwXol; e l ; TOV alwva
x a T a Ta Spya auTwv 3 3 6
iTiol-rjaevJlKolTjae 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 3 3 6
3 6 . Tol;3 T o u ; ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
e7rt.xaXou[ievot.;] iTrtxaXoutxevou; ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
UTtOJiOV^] UTIO [Lovfiq 7 6 9
TzoiriaoLi] TTotTjaa; ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
6aloL;]txeT' 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9
T i a p e a T a v a t ] K a p a o T O t v a t . 3 3 6 MO^QI
loxiit] laxuet 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 ) 3 3 6
3 7 . IvwTctovj ^
PsSol 2
&ew] x u p l w 336
a Y a 8 7 i ; ] 6 X 7 ; ; 260 (149 471 606) 629 (769)
ayaw...; 655
3. [jLVTjfxoveuoua'.vJ ^vTf)jjLoveuou<TL 260 (149 471 606)
629 (769) 336
Iv] 769* marg
x u p i o u ^ ] ToG x u p i o u 253 (655 659)
4. oXLY&jpVjaeL] oXtYopT^oeL 253 (655 659)
x u p i o u ' ] ToG x u p i o u 253 (655 659)
gvavTL] EvavTlov 260 (149 471 606) 629 (769) 336
3. A Psalm of Solomon about the Righteous"
^"Gk: "Just." The substantive use ofthe adjective; could also mean "things that are
just," or "People who are Fair and Equitable."
" Gk: "Why do you sleep, O soul." Syn "Why sleep, my soul..."
" "Pluck a new song...." The phrase describes singing with the accompaniment of a
stringed instrument. Some MSS read: "song and praise," or "a song and a hymn." Sec
Ps LXX 143.9; 148.1.
This may reflect a Hebrew infinite absolute intensifying the verbal form.
^* Gk: "keep watching for his watching," or "stay awake because of his wakefulness"
or "be aware of his being aware of you." Both the Gk and Syr are obscure.
" Other MSS read: "from a whole heart." See Deut 6.5.
The implication of the Hebrew that may lie behind the Greek is a ritual confession
of gratitude and thanksgiving.
" Gk: "just," here and elsewhere.
"Belittle," "be embarrassed by," "make light of"
" Or "corrected." The word invokes the image of the training of a child.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
K T w ^ a ] aKepji-a 3 3 6
avaaTT^aeTat,] a v e a T T j a e T a t 655*
NB; MS 606 has running headers on every page. Here, at folio 228r, the original
header begins: "CTocpta," in red, and is written over in black: '''^oLky-oq" in a
different hand.
11. o O ] o u (X7| 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
[j.v7)CT0i^aeTa] fivucOi^aeTat. (655ni 6 5 9 m )
ejiLaxeTrTTjTat,] enLaxoTrTTjTat, (655 6 5 9 ) eTct-axeTiTeTat, 336
" Here and elsewhere, the gnomic singular is best translated by plural in Enghsh.
« See fh. 63.
" Gk:"his fall was evil."
"° Gk: "portion," "share," "doom," or "what is reserved for." Sec 4.14; 5.4; 14.9;
also Ps49.13 NRSV; 81.15.
" See Dan 12.2; 2 Mac 7.9; Job 33.29f.
"...be in eclipse." See Thucydides, History ofthe Peloponnesian War, 1.23; 2.28;
Plutarch, Aemilius Panlus 17.
4. ALaXoyif) TOO HaXwfxwv TOI? aM&pwnapeoxoc;:
TOU] om 336
x u p i o u J re'oArC
2. TtepLOCToq^] TiepLaog 769*
<rr\]xtn^zi] oeLtxeLciaei. (655 659*)
6] om 336 o l (655 659m)
axXr.po?] LaxXr.po? 3 3 6
x a T a x p l v a L ] x a T a x p l v o t t ; 655 659m xaraxplvoiv 260 (149 471
6 0 6 ) x a T a x p l v e L 629 (769)
4. A Dialogue" of Solomon with Hypoerites "
1 .Why are you sitting in the Holy Sanhedrin," you foul" person?
When your heart is far from the Lord,
provoking the God of Israel with your rotten behavior?
2. Verbose and flamboyant more than anyone,
harshly condemning defendants" in court.''
** "Specious argiunents intending to deceive." " c a s u i s t r y . " Gk: " the wisdom of
one another."
^ PSALMS OF SOLOMON
19. Let wild animals tear apart the flesh of the hypocrites,
and may die bones of die criminals"
disgracefully bleach out in the sim.*
20. May crows peck out the eyes of these hypocrites,
because diey disgracefully seized so many people's homes,
and greedily evicted' them.
" Gk: "May sleep be taken away from his temples at night."
" Gk: "to which he sets his hand."
" Gk: "fill his soul."
** Gk: "his being taken up." The term is not found in die LXX and only in Lk 9.51.
Syr: "and may none of his children come near to him."
" Gk: "Those who twist die law." ("Lawyers"?)
" See [5t 28.26; Ez 6.5; 29.5; 39.17.
" Gk: "scatter"
^ THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
&EouJ avapwTcou 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
OUX ] OU x a l 7 6 9
e9o!37}0Tr^aav] cpo^-rjOTjaav 7 6 9
(icTtaat.] K a o L 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 3 3 6
u T r e x p l v o v T o ] u T r e x p l v E T o 6 5 9 uTTExpuvovTo 3 3 6
2 3 . aOTcSv] ' x a l 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 ) 3 3 6
puCTETai"] pi^aexaL 6 5 5
2 4 . e ^ o p a t ] 5ipai. 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 ) . • m r f
( i i y a ? ! om Syr
PsSol 4
Trapa] airo 3 3 6
l i v ] wv 769
4. aoO'] a o l 2 6 0 (149 471 606)
5. A Psalm of Solomon
Gk: -Tjcggar."
™ Gk: "saBam,""croak." See 1.1.
Gk: "take loot from...."
^ THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
6. ^apuvT);] ^ a p u v e : . ; 3 3 6 .iuo^^
St,' a v a y x T j v ] . ^ L U ^
CTU]CTol3 3 6
'* Gk: '*make your hand heavy against us." See Job 2.5.
^ Syr "...and do not tum your face from us lest we go far from you."
* Gk: "savannahs," "empty grasslands."
The Psahns of Solomon
TLXOIIOTOV] r^A\CU_=i=i
16. o u ] oO (655 6 5 9 )
&e6;] pC.tsb
uiTpLov] r^^cur^QOM
XAL...SLXAT.OAUVT)] om Syr
18. Those who fear the Lord are content with their possessions.
19. Praised be the glory of the Lord because he hiiitself is our king.
6. 'Ev ^XTCLSE. Tw LaXtdtiwv:
They rise out of sleep and give praise to the name of the Lord,
when their hearts are strong,'"
± e y sing out to the name of their God.'"
They seek the Lord for everyone in their household,
and the Lord hears the prayers of all who fear God.'^
The Lord fulfills every request from all those who hope in him.
Praised be the Lord who shows mercy
to those who truly love him.
4. e a v y a p ATTOA-relXT]; FTIVATOV
au evTeX-Q AUTU TREPL i^pLwv
5. 6x1 CTU lXe:^FZCI)v
xal oux opYi-crOi^dTrj TOO uuvTeXeaat r,\idiq-
T M ] TOU (655 6 5 9 )
1. ii]prC 253*
Tta-njCTaTw] K a T t a d v T w 253
4. Y I P J om (655 6 5 9 )
cvTeX^J n°fw
7. Of Solomon: Restoring.
Gk; "Don't pitch your tent away, far away from us."
The Temple; see 2.2, 19.
123 Qj.. i^You, yourself, instruct us about what you desire
and don't give (such instruction) to the Genriles..."
O r "For tf ever you dispatch Death, you give him orders about (avoiding) us."A
possible allusion to the Exodus (12.23).
"** THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
7. UTiepaoTTLaTT)!; IQ[JIWV] ^ j t o i -
Gk: "Are they directing their ways in righteousness?" (An ironic rhetorical
question.)
"* Gk: "calculated," "added up."
Gk: "...from the ages."
"* Ok: "mixed," "kneaded together (like dough)." See 2.13.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
11. T a a y t a ] enz..icui
SiTipitaVrav] 8!,Tjp7ia!;ou(jav (655 6 5 9 ) St7|p7ta^ov 260 (149 471
6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 (769) {StT,p7ta?ooav =Ra}
6? m] oux 260 (149 471 6 0 6 ) 629 (769)
12. eTtaTouoav] ^naTouv 260 (149 471 6 0 6 ) 629 (769)
&uai.aaTT)pE.ov xupiou ] aAii.cn
x a l kv a(p4Sp(^...] first words after end of lacuna in M S 336
extending from 5.14b.
acpeSpu] a((>eSp9 243 i ^ a i S p a v (655m 659m)
ai(j.aTO?] pr8t' (655m 6 5 9 )
E l i l a v a v ] = Q I < M \ , EUlaivov 260 (149 471 606) 629 (769) 3 3 6
13. TiapeXt-Tcov] TtapeXetTiov 253 (655 6 5 9 )
14. e x e p a o e v j ^ x s p a o a v (655 6 5 9 )
l u T o u ; ] auTo'L^ 2 6 0 (149 471 606)
i x p a T o u ] T<±M
15. ^ a y e v ] -^yays 2 6 0 (149 471 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 3 3 6
TOV'] TO (655 6 5 9 )
a n ' EoxaTou] d i t a l a ^ a T o u 253 (655 6 5 9 )
TOV'] om 3 3 6
f x p t v e v ] ExptvE 659 2 6 0 (149 471 6 0 6 ) 629 (769) 336
PsSol 8 '
See Atkinson, / Cried to the Lord, p. 59, who sees a second group of sinners
here, separate from the Priests.
Met the invader.
'** Gk: plural. Perhaps referring to Pompey and his troops. "Peace be to you!"
A parody on Isaiah 40.3 ?
Gk: "...they crowned her walls."
Gk: "he stood his feet firmly on the ground."
'** Gk: "each wise man in the council." (As far as the evidence shows, there were
no female members of the Sanhedren.)
Gk: axa&apoLo;, the same word as in 8.12 and 8.22.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
2 1 . a m i y a y e v ] dTniyaye 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 lal 3 3 6
a] S ? 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 ( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6
lysvvTjOav] ey6VVT,aEV 4 7 1 ] om Syr
22. axa8apota?] ax«p9apola? 7 6 9
Etilavov] l|jilavev 2 5 3 6 5 5 6 5 9 i M < = « i \ a
23. E9VEOI.V] I 9 v £ a i 2 5 3 (final'Si" erased and marked widi two dots) ( 6 5 9 )
260 (149 471 606) 629 336
auTwv] auTov 6 5 9
2 4 . alvETO?] auTo? ( 6 5 5 * 6 5 9 )
XUptO?] ( < o A r ^
'fyjv I v ] om 3 3 6
2 5 . Sij] 8E ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
21. He led off their sons and daughters, those bom defiled.-
They acted according to their defiled ways.
22. just like their ancestors, they defiled Jerusalem
and the things consecrated to the name of God.
See 8.9-10.
Gk: "your judgment is in your justice."
Other MSS read: "their eyes have seen.'
THK PSALMS OF SOLOMON
7]] om 629(769)
Gk: "...keep ourselves at a distance from you," "...depart from you," "leave
you."
' " G k : "for all time."
9. Tw SaXw^i-cov tlq I'ksyxo'^-
9= 0 ] NB: the title to PsSol 9 appears at the bottom of MS 253, folio 129r and
also at the top of folio 129v ]
SaXwfjuiv CTaXofwov 253 (655 659) 260 (149 606) 769 336
+ tlq vlxo? ^a}.[i6<i xat 3 3 6
1. T l v ' J p r 0 253
iXTcaxS^vat.] aTteXOTJvaL (655m 6 5 9 )
iCTpxrjX] IXT]" 769 'lEpouaaXTjji 336
aTTotxeCTta] anot-XTjCTLa 260 (149 471 6 0 6 )
xupLou] &eou (655 6 5 9 )
TOU Xurptixrafjiivou a u T o u ? ] ^ o i o o T a
i7rEpL97]CTavJ aJreppL97)CTav 260 (149 471 606) 6 2 9 (769) 3 3 6
(XTcspLcpELCTav (655 6 5 9 )
auToi;] auTwv (655 6 5 9 )
xupLo<;]pr 6 336 P^OAP^
"° "As proof," "in rebuttal," "as reproof." One MS adds: "A Psalm of Victory."
One MS reads: "Jerusalem."
Syr: "God."
Gk: "die diaspora." See 8.28.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
Gk: "to whom will you be helpfiil?"or "for whom will they [the 'judgments' in 9.5]
be helpfiil." Syr: "To whom is God kind?" Sir 13.4 (NRSV): "can be of use to him."
Wis 4.3: "be of no use."
Syr: "Tie cleanses the sins of the soul.'"
• Gk: "confesses and proclaims it in the marketplace," also, "excantarion for
10=1] om 253
'L'v]om 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 (769) 336 [at this point MS 253 has a sketch o f a
bird in the left margin, drawn in red ink]
ufzvoL?] OfAvo? 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 ) 629 (769) 3 3 6
SaXwfAwv] aaXo[xwv (655 6 5 9 ) 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 ) 629 aaXofAwv 4/aX(x6?
336
1. xupco?] p ^ o A r ^
sv eXey|jLw] r^^curiuuna
SXUXXWOT^] ExaxXwdr, 769 . c n A ^ a
[jtaaTLyL] fjLaoTLye (655 6 5 9 )
xa^apt-aS^vat] pr x a l 260 (149 471 606)629(769)
jcXifj&uvat] TrXTrjSijvaL 3 3 6
2. t J L a a T L y a ? ] ' x a l 253 (655 659) =^t<
XpiQCTTo?] xpt-CTTo? (655 6 5 9 )
y a p ] o m 6 2 9 (769) x a l (655 6 5 9 )
xupLO? ] om Syr
uTTojievouatv] uTroji^vouai (659) 2 6 0 (149 471 606) 629 (769) 3 3 6
TraLSelav] 655m
3. op&woeL] , o 3 r<^i^
h:(f.Gi:pi^zi] StaTipetJ'et, 2 5 3 (655) St,aTp£<]^s[. (659)
ev ] om Syr
nat-Scla ] 659m
iXeo?] mhwM
a y a i r w v T a ? ] ayanovToi? 2 5 3
10. With Hymns.' O f Solomon
11= lA
T 6 i ] om 769
This psalm is related to 1 Bar 4.36-5.9, and both passages are linked to Isa 40-
66. See bitroduction.
Or: "...signals holy events." See Joel 2.1,10.
Or: "...brought aU together...."
Syr: "...die cedars."
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
12=IB
SaXwfxciv] 2aXo|juiv (655 659) 260 (149 606 6 2 9 ) 336
1. tJ;[,8upou] ij^u&upou 655*in
SoXta] nov7)pa 6 2 9 * SoXepa (769)
2. ^v 7ro(,xt.Xl<y...yXaHT(nf)?] cruxl oAar^ f < l ^ . i - u i ^ p C i a a m s ,
TiotxLXla] xuXla (655m 659) TtoLxXyiCTt. 655c marg TtotTJaet, 260
(149 471 606)
aTpoq^<;]S[,aaTpo97;? 2 6 0 (149 471 606) Tpocpij? 629 (769)
yXwaCTT)?] yXuCTY)? 769
TtOVTJpoO] r C o o O i n - i T = I ^
wa7rep...auToO] r<2»a.i_3 PCICU .XUOMO
1. O Lx)rd, save my life from the wicked inan"* who twists the law,
from twisting and slandering language
that speaks lies and deceits.
2. The discourse"'of this wicked man takes many twists and turns.™
It is like a fue burning among a people,
scorching their beauty.'"
1. Ae^ta x u p t o u e o x e T i a a e v fjLe •
S e ^ t i xuptou EqjetaaTo T^fjtwv
2. 6 Ppa^i-wv xupLou eooxjev T^JXO?
aTio po[jL9ata? SLaTtopeuo^jLevT,?-
aiTo Xt.[jLoO x a l SavaTou ajjLapTwXoiv.
3. 97]pla ETieSpafiooav auTo"L? irovr^pa*
EV Tol? ASoOoLv auTMV ETtXXooav aapxa? aurwv
x a l iy Tal? (iuXat; 5&Xuv o o T a a u T o v
4. x a l ex TOUTWV aTraVTwv ^ppuaaTO T)[ia? xupto?.
10. c p s l a s T a t , ] ^ i ^ a s T a t 659
xupco;] r<ll*.1\
11. ouxJ oOx 253 (659)
12. auTovJom 253 (655 6 5 9 ) .enaUiV
PsSol 13
14=IA
I'aXwfjuiv] aaXoLuiv 659 2 6 0 (149 606) 629 336 -'^aly.oq 336
[ N B : In the margin of MS 629, on folio 305r(307r in the new numbering)
14.1-4 is duplicated in a different but apparently contemporary hand. The leaf
is torn so that the new text is fragmentary from v. 2b.]
1. uTiotievouoLv] u n o f i e v o u a t 2 6 0 (149 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 (769) 336
TratSeiav] 7ia(.Slav (655 6 5 9 )
2. TropeuofAevoLi;] + ev a x a x l a x a l 336
w ] o m 2 5 3 (655 659) 2 6 0 (149 471 606) 6v 336
ev y6\ud w eveTelXaTo] j c n * rftaccm
T^filv] T^fie'-v 6.55
3. ooLOE,] o a t o e L 655
^T^CTovTaL ] ^ o u a o v T a t 6 2 9
T o u j o m 260 (149 4 7 1 606) 629 (769)
xupiou^] Oeou (655m 659m both c in marg)
auToO] auTa (655 659)
14. A Hymn ofSolomon
Gk: 'Valkmg."
' Gk: "life." Syr: "He has given us the law for our life."
' See Prov 3.18; 11.30; 13.12; 15.4. Also Ps 1.3.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
4. 9 u r e l a ] cpurla (655 6 5 9 )
eppti^wtievT]] eppLE^ofiivT; 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 ) ep pt-^o^xevr) 655 659
' Gk: "Because hirnian ways are evident to him in every way."
' Gk: "the secret rooms of the heart." See Gen 43.30, Matt 6.6.
' Gk: "their inheritance."
' Or: "Hades," or "the grave."
' Gk: "found."
' Gk: "an inheritance."
15. "FaXfjLoi; TW I ^ a X u ^ v (jLexA 4^fj<;
15=IE
TO] om 629 (769)
IaXu(i«v] oaXojjixiv (655 659) 2 6 0 (149) 6 0 6 ) 629 ooXofiwv 3 3 6
(Ae-ra ] JIET' 260 (149 4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 336
lieTa USTJ; ] om 6 2 9 (769)
1. TO] TOU (659)
el;J •Tif;v 336
•^XTiioa] om 6 5 9 eowihjv 253 (655 659c marg) iu-io
ou] 336
2. Ti?] Ti 336
lo^uet] laxuoeL 336
6 &e6?, el iir,] om Syr
oot] = om 336
Ti] TO (655m 659)
4v&p(07ro?]pr 6 (655 659)
e^ofzoXo-vn^oaoftaL^] e^ojjLoXoYTloaCTo&aL 3 3 6 -Hrr, aXyj&ela 655m
3. xaivov] x a l alvov 2 6 0 (149 471 606) x a l vov 629-.' (769)
(leTi] IJIET' 260 (149 471 6 0 6 ) 629 (769) 3.36
l^P(JLOO[JLevw] ^ o d i M
yXoooT)?] yvoooT,; (655 6 5 9 ) rijiVa
4. Tov] om 3 3 6
alwva] + L H marg 3 3 6
opyr]] om 6 2 9 (769*) c in marg
oGx] oux 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 )
5. ini] e(p' 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 )
xupiou] r<2>a.'ts«
6Xe&peuaa(.] oXwftpeuaaL (655c 6 5 9 ) oXo&peuaa!. 260 (149 4 7 1
606) 629 (769) 336 • i c L s ^
UKoaxaatv] ^cn^ya.
afxctpxwXwv] a^apxweav 6 2 9
6. ToO &eou] f<-'U»
7. po[i(pala] i<jA5oaV
aTto St,xalwv [laxpav] aTio jiaxpav ino Sixalwv 2 6 0 ( 1 4 9 4 7 1
6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 ( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6 ^aa^-ii r<£i:-.-« ^
SLWXO^VOU] St-wxofjievot. 3 3 6
XLfjiou] a u o Xtpiou 2 5 3 3 3 6 aTtoXttiou (655 6 5 9 ) f<A\asB
{7ioXe[jLou Ra=vG}
oolwv] &elwv 6 2 9 ( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6 f<^
PsSol 15
^ See Wis 4.19; Sir 28.14; Luke 6.38; Luke 21.26; 1 Mace 9.13; Acts 4.31; Acts
n.l3;2Thes2.2.
^ See vs. 9, and Ps2.6.
Gk; "...is on the righteous for their protection."
Gk: "as those pursued by famine."
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
8. x a T o S t w ^ o v T a t , Se A^jLotpTcoXou? x a l xaTaXi^[jii|;ovTaL •
x a l o u x ex<peu^ovTaL o l TiotouvTe? avo^lav
TO x p l f i a xupiou*
9. bit; uTio KoXefilwv ^[XTtelpwv xaTaXTr][jL9&T^aovTaf
TO y a p aT,[ielov TTIQ a i r o i X e l a ? ini TOO [iszdmou auTwv.
10. K a l Tj xXir)povo|j.ia TMV a j i o p T o X o v dTToXsia x a l OXDTO?-
x a l a l a v o ( j . l a t a u x w v Swi^ovTat aurou?
^W? ^SoU XaTWTQtTOU.
11. T; xXTjpovofila auTwv o u ^ eupe^-^aeTai
TOl? TEXVOL? aUTWV
al y i p ajiapTlai e$EpT|[iMaouai.v otxou; ajiapTuXwv.
( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6 + y a p &; 6 5 5 6 5 9 m
S e ] + wxo(jievou 655m
336
TtoioOvTE?] T t i o u v T e ; 6 2 9 ? ( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6
9. uTio] om Syr
xaTaXTjiJL99T^oovTa(.] xaTaXifjcp&TioovTaL 2 5 3 e ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 ) 2 6 0 (149
4 7 1 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 ( 7 6 9 ) 3 3 6 xaTaXT)98T,(rT)TaL 6 2 9
aTTwXela?] liTroXELa? 3 3 6
oOx] o u x (655 6 5 9 )
a l ) x a l 336
16= K
u[xvo;]iJ;aX[i6; 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 )
laXwaciv] oaXo^Awv 6 5 5 6 5 9 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 ) 6 2 9 " l a . . . ' 7 partially
erased 336
oaioLc;]om 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 )
1. vuGTa^ai.]v7]aTa^a(. ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 ) i \ * » o D c <
ev'] om 6 2 9 ( 7 6 9 )
When was drowsy, I slowly drifted down, away from the Lord.
as I fell asleep, far from God.
For a moment my life was drained,^' 1 was almost dead.
I was standing with the sinner, very near to the gates of hell.^-
So I would have been carried away from the Lord God of Israel.
If the Lord had not taken hold of me with his eternal care."^
ev...(j,ou] om 659
^vLCTxuCTa!,] iCTxuCTai 606''^vt.CTxuCTL.aT=Pa
13. cvLCTXucriQi;] evLCTXutrac; 2 5 3 *
KatSelav] jiESlav 253 (655m 659m cor marg)
TtatSElav ^v TtEvlqc ^^v Ttevla Vat-Selav 149* [marked w i t h ' 1 3 ' a n d ' a ' t o
show misplacement] 4 7 1 6 0 6 )
The sequence of scribal alterations in MS 260 appears to be:
TtevlqL [ ] TcaLSelav 2 6 0 (imknown original text)
TtEvla eee TtaLSelav 260 c' (erasure)
ev Trevla 7tat.Selav 260 c ( ev added above line)
^ev KEvla '7tat,Selav 260 c a n d ' a ' i n s e r t e d to show misplacement.)
14. eXeyxeCTftatj eXExeCT&ai (655 659m)
tj^ux^iv] om Syr
ev X^^P^ oaTcpla; auTou] om Syr
auToO'] a u T T J ; 260 (149 606 769)
o a p x l ] CTapxT, (655 6 5 9 )
Ttevla;] T t e v e l o ; 659
PsSol 16
254
Gk: "Clothe my tongue and my tips, in words of truth."
2S5
Gk: "my soul."
256
Gk: "my soul."
2S7
Gk: "soul," "life."
2Sg
Gk: "...by the hand of his corruption." Sec Job 7.5.
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
17=IZ
t)jaX[i6?] om 3004
SaXwjiwv] aaXofjiwv 659 260 (149 6 0 6 ) 3 3 6
[xeTaJ [leT' 260 (149 6 0 6 ) 769 336
1. auTo?] om 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 )
paa'-Xeu?] -•- el? TOV alwva 6 &eo? 336
Tjpiwv' ] +xal 3 3 6
txi] kxri (655 6 5 9 )
&e6?]-^(xwv 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 )
2. 6 XP'^'^O'?] Syr
O Lord, you yourself are our king for ever and ever:
because in you, O God, w e ^ will take pride
How long is a person's allotted lifetime on earth?^'
as long as he lives, he can hope.^
But we hope in God our savior:
because the strength and mercy of our God will last forever,"'
and the kingdom of our God will last forever
in judgment over the Gentiles.^
Gk: "oiwsoul."
^ ' Gk: "And how long is a person's lifetime on earth according to his time?"
Gk: "according to his [life]span, [so] also [is] his hope.."
Gk: " the strength of our God is forever with mercy."
^ Some MSS omit: "in judgment."
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
7. 6 9 E 6 ; ] om Syr
oirip|xa]pri:o 260 (149 471 606) 629 (769) 336
T||auv ] T,p'-Twv 3004m c=Cerda
8. e6pE&f|vai.] Eips&ElTi 260 (149 471 606 3 0 0 4 )
9. a . ' x ' ] = i<'!Lom260 (149 471 6 0 6 3004) pr x a r a T a I p ^ a a u r w v
260 (149 471 6 0 6 3 0 0 4 ) 769 336
E X e i i a E o ) = :tu.-i4\ 16hl',i.o-iaA\ 16hl* JT|XET)oev R a = v G }
J^YjpEuvifjOEj E5epEuvT)oev 253 (655 6 5 9 ) lona
dffjxev] jsosx^
a u T o v ' ] auTou? 260 (149 471 606 3 0 0 4 )
E v a ] om 260 (149 4 7 1 606 3004)
PsSol IV
' Or: "assemblies of the pious." Some MSS omit: "of the devout."
' Gk: "spread out (their wings)."
Gk: "souls."
THE PSALMS OF SOLOMON
T7)v y ^ v j T ^ ; yr,z 3 3 6
19. 7rir)yal] a l Tnrjyal 3004
CTuvECT^sOriCTav] CTuvEXE&Tjoav (655 6 5 9 )
20. auTwv] a u T o O 336
Xaou] t<2«.XA_o
18. They were scattered over the whole earth by the lawless ones.
22. Undergird him with the strength to destroy the unrighteous rulers,
to purge Jerusalem from the Gentiles
who trample her down to destruction;
23. hi wisdom and in righteousness^^'
to drive out the sirmers from the inheritance,
to smash the arrogance of sinners like a potter's jar,
24. to demolish all their resources^*" with an iron rod;
to destroy the lawbreaking Gentiles with the word of his mouth;
25. to scatter the Gentiles from his presence at his threat;
to condemn sinners by their own consciences.^-
29. St,aii<aX[juxj 3004* interlinear; o m 471, Syr; StaijJaXiJL 655m 659m, in red
606.
PsSoI 17 "I
29. SLai|jaXiiaj 3004* interlinear; o/n 471, Syr; Stai^aXfjt 655m 659m, in red
606.
30. 6 5 " ) ^ 5 5 5 " (655 659)
Xaou; cdvoiv] r t f s a i ^ ^ r<=»li_
uno] xuno 655
TOV'] om 2 6 0 (149 6 0 6 3004) 769 336
x a l ' ] om (655 659)
xaaapceX] xi&aptel (655 6 5 9 ) xa&aploet 260 (149 471 6 0 6 3 0 0 4 )
336
TO] TO 3004* margc'Cerda
31. epxeo»ai] epxea9e 769 336
t p e p o v T e ; ] cpeptovTe; 659
e^Yjo^eVYjxoTa;] e5oa9ev7;x6Ta; (655* 6 5 9 )
TOU; e^TrjaftevTjxoTa; u l o u ; auTT;;,] ai:uai\r<:t crul^V
30. He will have Gentile peoples^ serving him under his yoke,
and he will glorify the Lord publically in the whole world.
He will pronounce Jerusalem clean,
consecrating it as it was in the begirming.
31. He will have nations c o m e ^ from the ends of the earth
to see his glory,
giving b a c k ^ her scattered children""
and to see the glory of the Lord
with which God has glorified her.
35. T i a T a ^ e t ] x a T a ^ s t 2 5 3 (655 6 5 9 ) 3 3 6
y^v] 655m
el?] + TOV 3 3 6
36. Sino] in' (655 6 5 9 )
Xaou ixeyaXou] Xaou? {AeyaXou? 2 5 3 ( 6 5 5 6 5 9 )
ICT)^U(,] l a x u e t 253 (655 6 5 9 ) om Syr
35. He will strike the earth with the word of his mouth forever;
He will bless the Lord's people with wisdom and happiness.
36. And he himself will be free from sin,
in order to rule such a great people.
He will expose officials and drive out siimers
by the strength of his word.
37. And he will not weaken*"' during his reign,^ relying upon his God,
because God will make him powerful by a holy spirit;
and wise in intelligent counsel, with strength and righteousness.
38. And the blessing of the Lord will be with him in strength,
and it will not weaken;
oc^eLj ^ ^ e i 6 5 5 * 6 5 9 * a u ^ e t 606 ^
uTrepTjtpavla] u T t e p u 9 a v l a (655m 659) u7repY)9aveLa 3004
x a T a S u v a o T e u & T J v a i . ] x a T o t S u v a o T e u & u v a c 655
a u T o l ? ' ] a u T w 3 0 0 4 * ( H a i m believes this to b e a correction b y the original
scribe; Baars says it is a later correction)
39. His hope will be in the Lord.
Then who can be stronger than h e ? "
40. He will be mighty in his actions and strong in the fear of God.
faithfully and righteously shepherding the Lord's sheep,""
he will not let any of them stumble" m their pastme.
41. He will lead them all impartially,"*
And there will be no arrogance among them,
that any of them should be oppressed.
42. This is the magnificence of the king of Israel'"'
that God acknowledged,
to raise him over the House of Israel to discipline it.
43. TO TipMTov TLfiLov] xltxiov TO TTpwTov 260 (149 471 606 3 0 0 4 ) 769
336
TO TrpwTOv] om Syr
cruvaYwYal;] auvoLybr^au; 655*m
StaxpLvelJ Staxplvei, 655 m StaxpLvel; 3004* c==Cerda
XaoG] Xaou; 260 (149 471 606 3004) 769 336
TiYt-aatxevou] iffioia^vm 260 (149 471 606 3 0 0 4 )
auToO'] auTMv 253 (655 6 5 9 )
wq] om 336
44. YEvofxevoi] YtvofxevoL 2 6 0 (149 471 606 3 0 0 4 ) 769 3 3 6
lapaifjX] 'IepouaaXii(jL 336
a j o m 253 (655 659) 769 336
notr,aei] noofjoat 253 (655 6 5 9 ) 769 336
45. TaxOvat.] xaxuvT; 253 (655 6 5 9 )
puaeTat,] pOoac 769 {puaaLTo Ra=vG}
axaSapffla;] axap&aala; 769
^X^ptivJ i<^fiih^
46. ^aatXeu^J PaatXeo; (655 6 5 9 )
43. His words will be purer^"* than the finest gold.
hi the assemblies he will judge the tribes of a sanctified people.
His words will be as the words of the holy ones,
among sanctified peoples.
44. H ^ p y are the people bom in those days
who will sec the good fortune of Israel
that God wall cause in the gathering of the tribes.
45. May God hasten his mercy to Israel;
May he shield us firom the contamination of defiled enemies;
46. The Lord himself is our king forevermore.
10. Our God is great and glorious living in the highest heavens,
who arranged the sun and moon into orbits
to mark die times of die hours from day to day.'
And they have not deviated fi-om their course,
diat he appointed for them.
11. Their course each day is in the fear of God,
from the day God created them and imtil forever.
12. And they have not wandered from the day he created them,
fiom ancient generations.
They have not veered off their course
except when God directed them by the command of his servants.'
( T h e e n d . thank G o d ! )
TRANSLATIO.NS:
Dutch:
G o e i j , M . d e . " P s a l m e n van S a l o m o . " 1 9 8 0 ( t e x t o f P s s S o l translated from G r a y ' s E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n ) .
Emglish:
Whiftton, W i l l i a m . A Collection of Authentick Records. 1 7 2 7 . T h e first E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n o f the P s s S o l .
Pick, B e m h a r d . The Psalter of Solomon. 1 8 8 3 ( T h e first w i d e l y a v a i l a b l e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n . T h e text is
d e p e n d e n t u p o n H i l g e n f e l d . E. G e i g e r . and W e l l h a u s e n ; the translation suffers from an i m p r e c i s e
k n o w l e d g e o f E n g l i s h a n d from n u m e r o u s t r a n s c r i p t i o n a l e r r o r s ) .
R y l e , Herbert E d w a r d and M o n t a g u e R h o d e s J a m e s . YALMOISOLMONTOS: The Psalms of the Pharisees.
1891.
H a m s , J(8mes) Readel. The Odes and Psalms of Soiomon. 1909 [2d. ed. 1911].
G r a y , G e o r g e B u c h a n a n . " T h e P s a l m s o f S o l o m o n . " 1 9 1 2 (the s t a n d a r d E n g l i s h e d i t i o n for s e v e n t y - f i v e y e a r s ) .
The Odes and Psalms of Solomon. 1 9 1 6 | 2 d
Harris, J ( 8 m e s ) R e n d e l a n d A l p h o n s e M i n g a n a . ed. 1920].
Klausoer, Joseph. The Messianic Idea in Israel. 1 9 5 5 ( s e l e c t i o n s from P s s S o l 8 , 1 7 , 1 8 ) .
G l a t z e r . N . N . " T h o u Art O u r K i n g : F r o m t h e P s a l m s o f S o l o m o n . " 1 9 6 3 (translation o f P s S o l 17 from an
unknown source).
Bonsirven. Joseph. Palestinian Judaism In the Time of Jesus Christ. 1 9 6 4 (English translations o f several
s e l e c t i o n s from P s s S o l 11 and 17 from the French e d i t i o n ; there are t w o different t r a n s l a t i o n s o f P s s S o l
17.32-47).
M o e l l e r , H e n r y R. The Legacy of Zion. 1 9 7 7 ( s e l e c t i o n s from P s s S o l , v a r i o u s p s a l m s ) .
D a v e n p o r t . G e n e L. Ideal Figures in Ancient Judaism. 1 9 8 0 . ( D i s c u s s i o n a n d translation o f P s s S o l 1 7 : 2 1 - 4 6 ) .
B r o c k , S e b a s t i a n P. The Psalms of Solomon, in The Apocryphal Old Testament, e d . H. F. D . S p a r k s , 6 4 9 - 6 8 2
(Oxford: Clarendon, 1984).
W r i g h t . R o b e r t B . " T h e P s a l m s o f S o l o m o n . " 1 9 8 5 (translation and n o t e s w i t h a c c o m p a n y i n g i n t r o d u c t i o n ) ,
OTP.
De Jonge, Marinus. The Psalms of Solomon. 1 9 8 5 ( i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d translation o f P s s S o l 1, 3 . 8, 17, 1 8 ) .
A t k i n s o n , K e n n e t h . A n IntertextuaJ S m d y o f the P s a l m s o f S o l o m o n P s e u d e p i g r a p h a . ( L e w i s t o n . N Y : T h e
E d w i n M e l l e n P r e s s . 2 0 0 1 ) . ( E m p h a s i z e s the intertcxtual a l l u s i o n s in the P s s S o l . )
—. / Cried to the Lord: A Study of the Psalms of Solomon's Historical Background and Social Setting.
(Leiden: Brill. 2 0 0 3 ) . ( A m o r e literal E n g l i s h translation than the a u t h o r ' s p r e v i o u s b o o k . C o n t a i n s
n u m e r o u s d e t a i l e d textual d i s c u s s i o n s b a s e d o n W r i g h t ' s critical a p p a r a t u s a s w e l l a s o n the S y r i a c
manuscripts.)
— . " T h e P s a b n s o f S o l o m o n : A n E n g l i s h T r a n s l a t i o n o f the G r e e k T e x t . " In T h e N e w E n g l i s h T r a n s l a t i o n o f
the S e p t u a g i m . A . P i e t e r s m a and B.G. W r i g h t , e d s . ( O x f o r d , E n g l a n d : O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s ,
f o r t h c o m i n g ) . A v a i l a b l e at: hiip. ccat.sas.upenn.edu/neis-ediiion/.
Wright, R o b e r t B . , The Psalms of Solomon: A Critical Edition of the Greek Text. Continuum Press. 2007.
210 Ps A L M S O F S O L O M O N
(This edition).
French:
B o n s i r v e n , J o s e p h . " L e s P s a u m e s d e S a l o m o n " in: La Bible Apocryphe en marge de I'Ancien Testament.
1953. 157-170 1= " D i e Psalmen Salomos," in: Die Apokryphe Bibel am Rande des Alten
Testaments.\'i59. 153-166]
M i g n e , M. " P s a u t i e r d e S a l o m o n , 1 8 5 6 (described b y Viteau as "mediocre").
N S l d e k e , T h e o d o r . A l t t e s t a m e n t l i c h e Literatur, 1 8 6 9 (translation b y H . D e r e n b o u r g and J. S o u r y ) .
Jacquier, E. Le Psaumes de Salomon. 1893.
P e y r o l l a z , A . L e P s a u t i e r d e S a l o m o n . 1 8 9 9 ( t r a n s l a t e d from v o n G e b h a r d t ' s t e x t ) .
V i t e a u . J. Les Psaumes de Salomon. 1911.
l.a G r a n g e , M.-J. "La R e n a i s s a n c e du M e s s i a n i s m e P e r s o n n e l D a v i d i q u e . " 1 9 3 1 (translation o f P s s S o i 17)
Prigent, Pierre. Psaumes de Salomon in A n d r 6 D u p o n t - S o m m e r and Marc P h i l o n e n c o , La B i b l e : Ecriis
Intertesiamentares.
German:
N e u m a n n . S. G. 1 6 8 7 ( p o s s i b l e a l l u s i o n to a translation b y N e u m a n n in M i g n e ' s Dictionaire des Apocryphes
ou Collection de tous les Livres Apocryphes relaii/s a I'Ancient et au Nouveau Testament (Pans
Barriere d ' E n f e r . 1 8 5 6 ) I c o l . 9 4 0 . ( A a p p a r e n t l y b a s e d o n d e la C e r d a ' s t e x t ) .
Anonym us. 1 7 1 6 ( r e p o r t e d b y V i t e a u to h a v e b e e n d e s c r i b e d b y F a b r i c i u s a s a translation a p p e a r i n g in
L e i p z i g . A l s o n o t i c e d by h . G e i g e r : a p p a r e n t l y b a s e d o n d e la C e r d a ' s t e x t ) .
B e r i e n b u r g i s c h e B i b e l . Die Heilige Schri/i Alies und Neues Testaments: {nach dem Grund-Text au[s neue
iibersehen und iihersetzeij. nebst einiger Erkldrung des buchstdblichen Sinnes. wie auch der
Jurnehmsten FUrbildern und Weissagungen von Chrisio und seinem Reich und zugleich {einigen
Lehren. die auf den Zusiand der Kir) B e r i e n b u r g : [J. F. H a u g ] , 1 7 4 2 . . ( A t t r i b u t e d b y s o m e to
F a b r i c i u s ; a p p a r e n t l y b a s e d o n d e la C e r d a ' s t e x t j .
Anonym us. Auswahl der heslen apocryphischen Schriften. welche noch ausser der biblischen vorhanden
sind. 1 7 7 6 . First C o l l e c t i o n . C o r b u r g : S a m m l u n g . ( R e p r i n t o f t h e Berlenburgische Bibel, with
corrections).
A k i b o n . R i c h a r d ( p e n - n a m e o f L u d w i g N o a c k ) . Achtzehn Psalmen Salomo 's...in's Deutsche Ubertragen. 1850
( a p p a r e n t l y b a s e d on d e la C e r d a ' s t e x t ) .
Aechle apokryphische BUcher der heiligen Schrift. welche noch ausser der Bibel vorhanden sind. Tubingen
1 8 5 2 . T r a n s l a t i o n with an i n t r o d u c t i o n . V i t e a u reports that the e d i t o r "...croit f e r m e m e n t q u e l e s
P s a u m e s d e S a l o m o n sont un livre i n s p i r e . " ( p . 2 4 2 ) .
. N o l d e k e . T h e o d o r . D i e a l t t e s t a m e n t l i c h e Literatur, L e i p z i g : Q u a n d t & H a n d e l . 1 8 6 8 .
H i l g e n f e l d , A d o l p h . Die Psalmen Salomo's. deutsch Ubersetzt und aufs Neue untersucht. 1 8 7 1 (translation
and critical n o t e s i s s u e d a s a refutation o f E. G e i g e r ' s p r o p o s e d H e b r e w o r i g i n a l ) .
W e l l h a u s e n . Julius. Die Pharisaer und die Sadducder. 1 8 7 4 (reprint 1 9 2 4 ) ( i n c l u d e d s e v e r a l c o n j e c t u r a l
emendations based upon his theory o f a Hebrew original).
Winter, J. a n d A u g u s t W i i n s c h e . Geschichte der JUdisch-hellenistischen und talmudischen Literatur. 1894
(translation o f P s s S o l 1, 9, and 17 b a s e d o n d e la C e r d a , F a b r i c i u s , and H i l g e n f e l d ) .
Z o c k l e r . O t t o . " D i e p s e u d e p i g r a p h i s c h e Lyrik: D e r Psalter S a l o m o s . " 1 8 9 1 .
Kittel. Rudolf. " D i e Psalmen S a l o m o s . " 1 9 0 0 ( s o m e w h a t dependent upon von Gebhardt).
P e r i e s . F e l i x . Zur Erkldrung der Psalmen Salomos. 1 9 0 2 ( b r i e f s t u d y that c o m p a r e s s o m e v e r s e s in the
back-translations o f Delitzsch and Frankenberg; s o m e w h a t dependent upon Gebhardt).
E c k e r , J a c o b . Porta Sion 1903 (extensive notes with many comparative translations).
ReiBIer, Paul. Psalmen Salomos. 1928.
K u h n . Karl G e o r g . Die dlteste Textgestalt der Psalmen Salomos. 1 9 3 7 ( a r g u e d that S y r i a c is a direct
translation from H e b r e w ; translation o f P s s S o l 1 3 - 1 7 ) .
H o l m - N i e l s e n , S v e n d . Poetische Schriften. 1977.
Greek:
A g o u r i d o u . S a b b a ( A g o u r i d o u . S a b b a ) . " V a l m o i S o l o m w n t o " ( S i s a g w g i k a — K e i m c n o kai S c o l i a ) " ( N o t
strictly a "traDSlation," but an e d i t i o n o f t b e Greek text w i t h a c o m m e n t a r y a n d n o t e s in m o d e m G r e e k ;
b a s e d o n v o n G e b h a r d i . Gray, a n d V i t e a u ) .
Hebrew:
Latin:
d e la C e r d a , J o h a n n e s L u d o v i c i . .Adversaria Sacra. 1 6 2 3 ( o c c a s i o n a l l y the Latin translation d o e s not match
the G r e e k t e x t ) .
N i e r e m b e r g , J o h a n n e s K u s e b i u s . De origine Sacrae Scriplurae. 1 6 4 1 (text a n d translation o f P s s S o l I. 18. and
part o f 1 7 ) .
J a n e s k i , G. " D i s s e r t a t i o h i s t o r i c o - c r i t i c a d e Psatterio S a l o m o n i s . " 1 6 8 7 (text o f P s s S o l 1 and 11 with Latin
translation o f d e la C e r d a ) .
Fabricius, Johannes A l b e n u s . Codex Pseudepigraphus Veieris Testamenti. 1 7 1 3 , and 2nd ed.. 1722
( r e p r o d u c e d d e la C e r d a ' s G r e e k and Latin texts with c o r r e c t i o n s ; s e c o n d e d i t i o n , w h i l e c o r r e c t m g
m i s t a k e s in the first e d i t i o n , a l l o w e d a d d i t i o n a l errors).
Portuguese:
Revista Biiblica Brasileira 17 ( 2 0 0 0 ) 5 - 2 9 . ( T r a n s l a t i o n , i n t r o d u c t i o n , a n d f o o t n o t e s . A P o r t u g u e s e translation
o f " P s a l m s o f S o l o m o n " from H e d l e y F. S p a r k s . The Apocryphal Old r ^ M m e n t ( 1 9 8 4 ) T h e translation
i n c l u d e d the i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d f o o t n o t e s . )
JtHSsian:
Spanish:
S i e n t , A n t o n i o Piriero. " S a l m o s d e S a l o m 6 n " in A l e j a n d r o D i e z M a c h o , M a r i a A n g e l e s N a v a r r o , A l f o n s o d e
la F u e n t e . and A n t o n i o Pifiero S i e n t . Apocrifos del Antiguo Testamenlo. 1982.
Swedish:
L i n d b l o m , ( C h r i s t i a n ) J o h a n n e s B . Senjudiski Fromhetslif Englit Salomos Psaltare. 1909 {translation
dependent upon von Gebhardt).
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE GREEK TEXT O F THE PSALMS OF S O L O M O N
Press, 1 9 8 2 ) .
. - C h r i s i o s K y r i o s in P s S O L 1 7 . 3 2 : ' T h e L o r d ' s A n o i n t e d ' R e c o n s i d e r e d . " A^rS ( 1 9 8 5 ) 3 1 , p p . 6 2 0 - 6 2 7 .
Harris, J { a m e s ) R e n d e l , " N o t e s o n the S i n a i t i c and Vatican C o d i c e s , " J o A n j Hopkins University Circular no
2 9 March 1 8 8 4 .
— , The Odes and Psalms of Solomon: Now First Published from the Syriac Version (Cambridge (England)
C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y Press, 1 9 0 9 ) .
— , The Odes and Psalms of Solomon: Published from the Syriac Version (Cambridge (England) Cambridge
University Press 2nd ed.. 1911).
, and A l p h o n s e M i n g a n a , The Odes and Psalms of Solomon, re-edited for the Governors of the John
Rylands Library VoL I The Text with Facsimile Reproductions ( M a n c h e s t e r : U n i v e r s i t y Press; L o n d o n .
N e w York: L o n g m a n s . G r e e n & C o . . 1 9 1 6 ) . Vol. 11 Translation with Introduction and-Vore* { M a n c h e s t e r :
M a n c h e s t e r U n i v e r s i t y Press; L o n d o n / N e w York: L o n g m a n s , G r e e n & C o . . 1 9 2 0 ) .
— . The Odes and Psalms of Solomon Vol. H The Translation with Introduction and Notes (Manchester:
U n i v e r s i t y Press; L o n d o n / N e w York: L o n g m a n s . G r e e n & C o . . 1 9 2 0 ) .
H a r i o m , A . S-, Ketuvim aharonim /meiurgamim u-meforashim al yede. S e f a r i m h a - h i t s o n i y i m (Tel A v i v :
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— , Mizmorishelmah, S e f a r i m h a - h i l s o n i y i m (Tel A v i v : Y a v n e h , 1 9 6 2 ) .
Hausrath, A d o l f . Neutestamentliche Geschichte (Heidelberg: Bassermann, 1873).
-, A History of the New Testament Times: the lime of the apostles, T r L. H u x i e y . 4 v o l s . ( L o n d o n : W i l l i a m s
and N o r g a t e . 1 8 9 5 ) .
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— . " D i e P s a l m e n S a i o m o ' s . d e u t s c h Qbersetzt und aufs N e u e u n t e r s u c h t . " / H T 14 ( 1 8 7 1 ) p p . 3 8 3 4 1 8 .
— " D i e P s a l m e n S a l o m o ' s und d i e H i m m e l f a h r t d e s M o s e s , g r i e c h i s c h h e r g e s l e l l t u n d erklart," ZIVT 11
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H o l m - N i e l s e n . S v e n d , " E r w a g u n g e n z u d e m V e r h a l m i s z w i s c h e n d e n H o d a j o t und d e n P s a l m e n S a l o m o s "
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J o n g e , M a r i n u s d e , D e T o e k o m s t v e r w a c b t i n g in d e P s a l m e n v a n S a l o m o ( L e i d e n : E. J. Brill, 1 9 6 5 ) .
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the T e s t a m e n t s o f the T w e l v e Patriarchs: C o l l e c t e d E s s a y s o f M a r i n u s d e J o n g e ( L e i d e n : E. J. Brill.
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