The Qumran Psalter

The Thanksgiving Hymns among the Dead Sea Scrolls

James H. Charlesworth

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN:
  9781625648761
  9781498222556
• eBook ISBN:
  9781630876579
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

In 68 CE, devout Jews left more than one thousand handwritten documents in caves northwest of the Dead Sea. The cave that most defined the beliefs and hopes of these Jews is Cave I. In it were placed many manuscripts, including two copies of the Qumran Psalter or Thanksgiving Hymns. In 1947, Bedouin shepherds found Cave I and retrieved scrolls, including a copy of the Qumran Psalter. It proves Jews created new psalms to complement the Davidic Psalter (the "Psalms" usually attributed to David). We learn for the first time how Jews prior to Hillel and Jesus imagined the universe, articulated unworthiness, and despite suffering were devoted to God's covenant. One author imagines that though his ear was inattentive to God's words he felt a message penetrate his being so that his stone heart palpitated. Throughout and especially in the Self-Glorification Hymn, the authors express transcendence, and a oneness with angels through God's continuing acts of compassion and acceptance. Though confessing unworthiness, the authors thank the Lord for forgiving those who turn from transgression; this theme is the keynote of the symphonic poetry. Jews, Christians, and all interested in spirituality will find insight and comfort studying these psalms and poems.

Col. 1 [lost]

Col. 2 [Frgs. 23 and 16]

hymn 1

God’s Mercies Upon the Poor Ones

1–11 [. . .]

12 [. . .] yo[ur wonder]ful acts [there is n]o interpretation

13 [. . . and] you brought forth for the eternities of

14 [. . .] they [proclaim] with abundant exultation.

15 [. . . I will re]joice o o[. . .]l[. . .]

16 [. . .] o o [. . .]

17–23 [. . .]

24 [. . .] o [. . .].

25 [. . . their] rebelliousness [. . .] o[. . .]

26 [. . .op]pressed ones and who [. . .]

27 [. . .] his mercies upon the Poor O[nes. . .].

28 [. . .]h and who arranges [. . .]

29 [. . .] and who arranges the mighty on[es. . .].

30 [. . . u]nto eternity, who thinks [. . .]

31 [. . .] the clever ones. And who [. . .]

32 [. . .] your [mi]ght o o[. . .]l[. . .].

Col. 3 [Frgs. 21 and 11]

1–14 [. . .]

15 [. . .]m o o o [. . .]

16 [. . .] o your. And you help those who are willi[ng.]

17 [. . .Fo]r you are comforting the mourner [. . .]

18 [. . .] affliction and with blessings o o[. . .].

19 [. . . I thank] you, O my God, o o o o l o [. . .]

20-22 [. . .]

23 [. . .from] dust [. . .]

24 [. . .] it stood for all the years of eter[nity. . .]

25 [. . .] without you each seal o o o and peace [. . .].

26 [. . .]m and their spirit, the sons...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• Hymn 1: God’s Mercies Upon the Poor Ones
• Hymn 2: Blessed is the God of Knowledge Who Cleanses Me
• Hymn 3: Blessed is the Lord God of Mercies
• Hymn 4: I Thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit
• Hymn 5: The Master Prostrates Himself Before God
• Hymn 6: Blessed is the Lord for His Power
• Hymn 7: I Thank the Lord for the Heart of Discernment
• Hymn 8: I Thank the Lord for the Multitude of His Wonders
• Hymn 9: Bless God: A Psalm for the Master
• Hymn 10: Blessed Is the Lord for His Great Counsel
• Hymn 11: I Thank the Lord for Purification
• Hymn 12: I Thank the Lord for He Placed My Soul with the Living Ones
• Hymn 13: I Thank the Lord for Saving Me from Lying Interpreters
• Hymn 14: I Thank the Lord for Redeeming My Soul from the Pit
• Hymn 15: I Thank the Lord for Protection
• Hymn 16: I Thank the Lord for Enlightening Me for the Covenant
• Hymn 17: I Thank the Lord for not Abandoning Me
• Hymn 18: Blessed Is the Lord for His Righteousness to the Orphan
• Hymn 19: I Thank the Lord for Sustaining Me
• Hymn 20: I Thank the Lord for Instructing Me in Truth
• Hymn 21: I Thank the Lord for my Lot
• Hymn 22: I Thank the Lord for Making Me the Irrigator of the Garden
• Hymn 23: Blessed Is the Lord for Making Me Mighty
• Hymn 24: Blessed Is the Lord for His Loving Kindness
• Hymn 25: I Thank God for Dealing Wonderfully with Dust
• Hymn 26: I Thank My God for Allowing Me to Know Secret Truth
• Hymn 27: Blessed Is the Lord for Insight
• Hymn 28: For the Instructor: Concerning Night Prayers
• Hymn 29: Confessions of a Creature of Dust, Clay, and Ashes
• Hymn 30: Blessed Is the God of Knowledge Who Established His Servant
• Hymn 31: Praise Be to God’s Glorious Creation
• Hymn 32: The Failure of the Cast-Down Heavenly Beings to Praise: Judgment
• Hymn 33: For the Instructor: A Psalm to God, Our King
• Hymn 34: Fragments
• Hymn 35: I Thank the Lord Who Revealed
• For the Qumran Psalter: Self-Glorfication Hymn Composite
• Select Bibliography