The Copy Book

Ye Children, Hearken Unto Me

David, fresh from another close encounter with Saul’s men, shares his advice for living a charmed life.

?1012 BC
In the Time of

Saul ?1030-?1010 BCKing of Israel

Back to text

Ye Children, Hearken Unto Me

By Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Source

King David singing to the harp, by Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656).

X

No further information.

Back to text

King David singing to the harp, by Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656).

Enlarge
By Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656), via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain.

Introduction

Psalm 34 is said to have been written as a thanksgiving by David, when he was on the run from the madness of King Saul. He took refuge with Achish (Achimelech or Abimelech) the King of Gath, and to ensure that news of him did not get about, passed himself off as a harmless lunatic. This extract comes from the elegant translation made in 1535 by Yorkshireman Myles Coverdale.

Come, ye children, and hearken unto me : I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is he that lusteth to live : and would fain see good days?
Keep thy tongue from evil : and thy lips, that they speak no guile.
Eschew evil, and do good : seek peace, and ensue it.
The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous : and his ears are open unto their prayers.
The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil : to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them : and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart : and will save such as be of an humble spirit.
Great are the troubles of the righteous : but the Lord delivereth him out of all.
He keepeth all his bones : so that not one of them is broken.
But misfortune shall slay the ungodly : and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants : and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.

From Psalm 34:11-22, in the translation by Myles Coverdale that was included in successive editions of the Book of Common Prayer from 1549 to 1662.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Précis

David, who has managed to elude Saul’s spies, sings in praise of God’s watchful care. If we wish a long and blessed life, he says, we should not lie, or seek conflict, but be humble, and sincere in repentance. Those who have no fear of God will be uprooted; but those who trust in him will not be disappointed. (59 / 60 words)

David, who has managed to elude Saul’s spies, sings in praise of God’s watchful care. If we wish a long and blessed life, he says, we should not lie, or seek conflict, but be humble, and sincere in repentance. Those who have no fear of God will be uprooted; but those who trust in him will not be disappointed.

Edit | Reset

Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, just, may, must, ought, unless, until, whether.

Archive

Word Games

Sevens Based on this passage

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What does David promise to those who put their trust in God?

Suggestion

Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.

Jigsaws Based on this passage

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Would anyone like a long and happy life? He should avoid lying.

Variation: Try rewriting your sentence so that it uses one or more of these words: 1. Age 2. Honest 3. If

Spinners Find in Think and Speak

For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.

This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.

1 Broken. Trust. You.

2 Guile. Soul. Ye.

3 Earth. Lord. Trouble.

Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)

Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak

Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.

bts (16+6)

See Words

abates. abets. baits. bats. beats. beauties. beets. betas. bets. bites. bits. boats. booties. boots. bouts. buts.

abuts. beauteous. beauts. bootees. obits. obtuse.

Post Box : Ask Nicholas

Grok : Ask Grok

If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.

Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.

Related Posts

The Parable of the Talents

Three servants are engaged to invest their master’s money in the markets.

Read

Picture: © A. N. Mironov, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.. Source.

The Annunciation to Mary

An angel appeared to Mary in her home in Nazareth, and offered her the chance to be part of nothing less than the reopening of the doors of Paradise.

Read

Picture: Via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.

The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen

While the owner is away, the men he has hired to tend his vineyard conspire to seize it for themselves.

Read

Picture: © Yair Aronshtam, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

A Jewish man is left for dead by bandits, but help comes from a most unexpected quarter.

Read

Picture: From Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.