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Doubtful Fragments on the Psalms

Hippolytus

Section 7

About this work

Author: Hippolytus

7. As there are “psalms,” and “

‹ Section 6 Section 8 ›

songs

,

”

and

“

psalms

of

song

,

”

and

“

songs

of

psalmody

,

”

it

remains

that

we

discuss

the

difference

between

these

.

We

think

,

then

,

that

the

“

psalms

”

are

those

which

are

simply

played

to

an

instrument

,

without

the

accompaniment

of

the

voice

,

and

(

which

are

composed

)

for

the

musical

melody

of

the

instrument

;

and

that

those

are

called

“

songs

”

which

are

rendered

by

the

voice

in

concert

with

the

music

;

and

that

they

are

called

“

psalms

of

song

”

when

the

voice

takes

the

lead

,

while

the

appropriate

sound

is

also

made

to

accompany

it

,

rendered

harmoniously

by

the

instruments

;

and

“

songs

of

psalmody

,

”

when

the

instrument

takes

the

lead

,

while

the

voice

has

the

second

place

,

and

accompanies

the

music

of

the

strings

.

And

thus

much

as

to

the

letter

of

what

is

signified

by

these

terms

.

But

as

to

the

mystical

interpretation

,

it

would

be

a

“

psalm

”

when

,

by

smiting

the

instrument

,

viz

.

,

the

body

,

with

good

deeds

we

succeed

in

good

action

though

not

wholly

proficient

in

speculation

;

and

a

“

song

,

”

when

,

by

revolving

the

mysteries

of

the

truth

,

apart

from

the

practical

,

and

assenting

fully

to

them

,

we

have

the

noblest

thoughts

of

God

and

His

oracles

,

while

knowledge

enlightens

us

,

and

wisdom

shines

brightly

in

our

souls

;

and

a

“

song

of

psalmody

,

”

when

,

while

good

action

takes

the

lead

,

according

to

the

word

,

“

If

thou

desire

wisdom

,

keep

the

commandments

,

and

the

Lord

shall

give

her

unto

thee

,

”

we

understand

wisdom

at

the

same

time

,

and

are

deemed

worthy

by

God

to

know

the

truth

of

things

,

till

now

kept

hid

from

us

;

and

a

“

psalm

of

song

,

”

when

,

by

revolving

with

the

light

of

wisdom

some

of

the

more

abstruse

questions

pertaining

to

morals

,

we

first

become

prudent

in

action

,

and

then

also

able

to

tell

what

,

and

when

,

and

how

action

is

to

be

taken

.

And

perhaps

this

is

the

reason

why

the

first

inscriptions

nowhere

contain

the

word

“

songs

,

”

but

only

“

psalm

”

or

“

psalms

;

”

for

the

saint

does

not

begin

with

speculation

;

but

when

he

has

become

in

a

simple

way

a

believer

,

according

to

orthodoxy

,

he

devotes

himself

to

the

actions

that

are

to

be

done

.

For

this

reason

,

also

,

are

there

many

“

songs

”

at

the

end

;

and

wherever

there

is

the

word

“

degrees

,

”

there

we

do

not

find

the

word

“

psalm

,

”

whether

by

itself

alone

or

with

any

addition

,

but

only

“

songs

.

”

For

in

the

“

degrees

”

(

or

“

ascents

”

)

,

the

saints

will

be

engaged

in

nothing

but

in

speculation

alone

.

And

let

the

account

which

we

have

offered

,

following

the

indications

given

in

the

interpretation

of

the

Seventy

,

suffice

for

this

subject

in

general

.

Notes

10
The Greek is: ὄντων ψαλμῶν, καὶ οὐσῶν ᾠδῶν, καὶ ψαλμῶν ᾠδῆς, καὶ ᾠδῶν ψαλμοῦ.
11
Ecclus. i. 26.