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Read the Faddan More Psalter text

Compare original Latin psalms with their translation


Two pages of the Psalter are displayed in the current exhibition. Because the pages are so sensitive to light, they can only be displayed for three months at a time.

Explore the text of the Faddan More Psalter, using sections of the two pages currently on display. Portions of the text are highlighted and transcribed, and an English translation of the Latin text is also provided:

Folio 29 verso - Psalm 73

Folio 29 Verso of the Faddan More Psalter
Fig. 1: Folio 29 Verso of the Faddan More Psalter

  • line 22 [1] Ut quid Deus repulisti in finem iratus est
  • line 23 furor tuus super oves pascuae tuae [2] me
  • line 24 mor esto congregationis tuae quam posse
  • line 25 disti ab initia redemisti virgam hereditatis tuae
  • line 26 mons Sion in quo habitasti in eo [3] leva manus tuas in
  • line 27 superbias eorum in finem quanta malignatus est
  • line 28 inimicus in sancto [4] et gloriati sunt qui oderunt te in medio
  • line 29 sollemnitatis tuae posuerunt signa sua

English translation

O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture? [2] Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt. [3] Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. [4] And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,

Folio 32 recto - Psalm 77

Folio 32 recto of the Faddan More Psalter
Fig. 2: Folio 32 recto of the Faddan More Psalter

  • line 6 one [34] cum occideret eos quaerebant eum et revertebantur
  • line 7 et deluculo veniebant ad Deum [35] et rememorati sunt quia Deus
  • line 8 adiutor est eorum et Deus excelsus redemptor eorum est [36]
  • line 9 et dilexerunt eum in ore suo mentiti sunt ei [37]
  • line 10 cor autem ipsorum non erat rectum eorum eo nec fid
  • line 11 eles habiti sunt in testamento eius[38] ipse est misericors et p
  • line 12 ropitius fiet peccatis eorum et non disperdit eos et abundabit ut avertat iram suam et non accendet omnem iram suam [39] et
  • line 13 recordatus est quia caro sunt spiritus vadens et non rediens

English translation

...[one] [34] When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning. [35] And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high God their redeemer. [36] And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they lied unto him: [37] But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant. [38] But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not kindle all his wrath. [39] And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goeth and returneth not

Folio 32 verso - Psalm 77

Folio 32 verso of the Faddan More Psalter
Fig. 3: Folio 32 verso of the Faddan More Psalter

  • line 1 conclussit [51] et percussit omne primitivum in Aegypto
  • line 2 praemitinm laborum eorum in tabernaculis
  • line 3 Cham [52] et abstullit sicut oves populum suum et per
  • line 4 duxit eos tamquam gregem in deserto [53] et deduxit
  • line 5 eos in spe et non timuerunt et inimicos eorum ope
  • line 6 ruit mare [54] et induxit eos in montem sanctifica
  • line 7 tionis suae montem quem adquisivit dextera
  • line 8 eius et eiecit a facie eorum gentes et sorte div
  • line 9 isit eis tamquam in funiculo tributionis [55] et ha
  • line 10 bitare fecit in tabernaculis eorum tribus Israline
  • 11 hel

English translation

...[51] And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham. [52] And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. [53] And he brought them out in hope, and they feared not: band the sea overwhelmed their enemies. [54] And
he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the mountain which his right hand had purchased. And he cast out the Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line of distribution. [55] And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.

Folio 29 recto - Psalm 72

Folio 29 recto of the Faddan More Psalter
Fig. 4: Folio 29 recto of the Faddan More Psalter

  • line 16 [1] quam bonus Israhel Deus qui recto sunt
  • line 17 corde [2] mei autem paene moti sunt paene effussi sunt
  • line 18 gressus mei [3] quia zelavi super iniqui pacem pec
  • line 19 catorum videns [4] quia non est respectus morti
  • line 20 eorum et firmamentum in plaga eorum [5] in lab
  • line 21 ore hominum non sunt et cum hominibus non flagillabuntur

English translation

How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart! [2] But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped. [3] Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners. [4] For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes. [5] They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men

Folio 17 verso - Psalm 39

Folio 17 verso of the Faddan More Psalter
Fig. 5: Folio 17 verso of the Faddan More Psalter

  • line 1 [7] sacrificium et oblationem noluisti aures autem
  • line 2 perfecisti mihi holocaustums et pro peccato nonpostulasti [8]
  • line 3 tunc dixi ecce venio in capite libri scriptum est de me [9] ut
  • line 4 facerem voluntatem tuam Deus meus volui et legem tuam
  • line 5 in medio cordis mei [10] adnuntiavi iustitiam in ecclesia
  • line 6 magna ecce labia mea non prohibebo Domine tu scisti

English translation

[7] Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire; but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require: [8] Then said I, Behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me [9] That I should do thy will: O my God, I have desired it, and thy law in the midst of my heart. [10] I have declared thy justice in a great church, lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.

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