DENISON

Cleveland Public Library Leaf 10

This mid-thirteenth century German psalter has acquired the nickname "The Laughing Carp Psalter" due to its penwork illustrations. The decorative style involves using fish (one of the leading medieval symbols for Christ) to complete lines of text that do not reach to the right margin of the page; this maintains the aesthetic of a full page within the borders of the leaf. The leaf itself measures 19.5 x 14cm, with slightly yellowed and stained vellum, and is lined in ink. The ink used for the bulk of the text is very dark, but fades into brown in places. Blue, red, coral, orange, and white are used in the decoration, and scribal corrections are included above each line where necessary. See Denison University Leaf 10 for more information about this manuscript.

Text: Psalms 74:9-75:9 (recto) and 75:10-76:7 (verso).

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Cleveland Leaf 10 Recto
Cleveland Leaf 10 Recto

Cleveland Public Library Leaf 10 Recto

+ Cleveland Leaf 10 Recto Transcription

Et inclinávit ex hoc in hoc; verúmtamen fæx ejus non est exinaníta: bibent omnes peccatóres terræ.
Ego autem annuntiábo in saeculum; cantábo Deo Jacob:
Et ómnia córnua peccatórum confríngam, et exaltabúntur córnua justi.

Notus in Judaea Deus; in Israël magnum nomen ejus.
Et factus est in pace locus ejus, et habitátio ejus in Sion.
Ibi confrégit poténtias árcuum, scutum, gládium, et bellum.
Illúminans tu mirabíliter a móntibus ætérnis; turbáti sunt omnes insipiéntes corde.
Dormiérunt somnum suum, et nihil invenérunt omnes viri divitiárum in mánibus suis.
Ab increpatióne tua, Deus Jacob, dormitavérunt qui ascendérunt equos.
Tu terríbilis es; et quis resístet tibi? ex tunc ira tua.
De cælo audítum fecísti judícium: terra trémuit et quiévit.

+ Cleveland Leaf 10 Recto Translation

[Psalms 74:9-75:9]

9 for in the hand of the Lord there is a cup of strong wine full of mixture. And he hath poured it out from this to that: but the dregs thereof are not emptied: all the sinners of the earth shall drink. 10 But I will declare for ever: I will sing to the God of Jacob. 11 And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the just shall be exalted.

1 Unto the end, in praises, a psalm for Asaph: a canticle to the Assyrians. 2 IN Judea God is known: his name is great in Israel. 3 And his place is in peace: and his abode in Sion: 4 There hath he broken the powers of bows, the shield, the sword, and the battle. 5 Thou enlightenest wonderfully from the everlasting hills. 6 All the foolish of heart were troubled. They have slept their sleep; and all the men of riches have found nothing in their hands. 7 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, they have all slumbered that mounted on horseback. 8 Thou art terrible, and who shall resist thee? from that time thy wrath. 9 Thou hast caused judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth trembled and was still.


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Cleveland Leaf 10 Verso
Cleveland Leaf 10 Verso

Cleveland Public Library Leaf 10 Verso

+ Cleveland Leaf 10 Verso Transcription

Cum exsúrgeret in judícium Deus, ut salvos fáceret omnes mansuétos terræ.
Quóniam cogitátio hóminis confitébitur tibi, et réliquiæ cogitatiónis diem festum agent tibi.
Vovéte et réddite Dómino Deo vestro, omnes qui in circúitu ejus affértis múnera:
Terríbili, et ei qui aufert spíritum príncipum: terríbili apud reges terræ.

Voce mea ad Dóminum clamávi; voce mea ad Deum, et inténdit mihi.
In die tribulatiónis meæ Deum exquisívi; mánibus meis nocte contra eum, et non sum decéptus.
Rénuit consolári ánima mea; memor fui Dei, et delectátus sum, et exercitátus sum, et defécit spíritus meus.
Anticipavérunt vigílias óculi mei; turbátus sum, et non sum locútus.
Cogitávi dies antíquos, et annos ætérnos in mente hábui.
Et meditátus sum nocte cum corde meo, et exercitábar, et scopébam spíritum meum.

+ Cleveland Leaf 10 Verso Translation

[Psalms 75:10-76:7]

10 When God arose in judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. 11 For the thought of man shall give praise to thee: and the remainders of the thought shall keep holiday to thee. 12 Vow ye, and pay to the Lord your God: all you that are round about him bring presents. To him that is terrible, 13 even to him who taketh away the spirit of princes: to the terrible with the kings of the earth.

I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me. 3 In the day of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted: 4 I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away. 5 My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not. 6 I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years. 7 And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.


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