Dialogue Between a Man and his God
AO 4462
Ancient Near East
A man weeps to his god like a friend, He constantly prays. His heart is aflame, his toil is grim, His kidneys are grieving from suffering. He has become weak and then bent: he is prostrated. His toil has become too heavy for him, he has drawn near to weep. He brays like the weaned foal of a donkey. He has got loud in the god’s presence, his chief. A bull is his speech, his voice two lamenters. His lips bear a lament to his lord. He recounts to his lord the toil he has gone through. The man explains the suffering he is enduring: “My lord, I have examined my kidneys ... In my heart. I do not know what sin I have committed. Have I committed an abomination against you?
Date: 1700 B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Psalm 26:2
Hebrew Bible
1 By David. Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have integrity, and I trust in the Lord without wavering. 2 Examine me, O Lord, and test me. Examine my kidneys and my heart3. 3 For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me. 4 I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
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Notes and References
"... The words הילכ [kidney] and לב [heart] in Psalm 26:2 are also suggestive of typical wisdom language. The use of various words referring to organs of the body is significant because it functions as succinct expressions used by sages. The meanings of melting and testing of metals are used in parallel to הילכ [kidney] and בל [heart]. They are the seats of emotions and passions as well as intellectual and moral nature and in this regard reminiscent of Jeremiah 11:20, 17:10 and 20:12 ..."
Potgieter, A.
Psalm 26 and Proverbs: Tracing Wisdom Themes
(pp. 1-7) Verbum et Ecclesia 35 (1), 2014
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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