Cleveland Public Library Leaf 17
The vellum of this late-thirteenth century English psalter was once nearly white, but now appears dirty. The ink for the bulk of the text is brown, with blue, orange (or weak red), green, and white in the decorations. Gold and silver are both used, and the silver has tarnished. There are dragons, foliage, flowers, and pointed ivy as marginal decorations. Illuminated initials begin each verse, and bars are placed at the end of lines to complete them when the text is too short to fill them; these lines include both geometric designs and additional dragons. The leaf measures 17 x 11 cm. See Denison University Leaf 17 for more information about this manuscript.
Text: Psalms 54:19-55:3 (recto) and 55:3-11 (verso).
Reconstruction Note! In Ege's original manuscript, this leaf was followed by what is now Leaf 17 in the Case Western Reserve University portfolio; the latter was followed by what is now Leaf 17 in the Kenyon portfolio; and the Kenyon leaf was followed by what is now Leaf 17 in the Lima Public Library portfolio. Together the four leaves contain the text of Psalms 54:19-59:12.
Cleveland Leaf 17 Recto
Cleveland Public Library Leaf 17 Recto
Cleveland Leaf 17 Recto Transcription
[column A]
quóniam inter multos erant mecum.
Exáudiet Deus, et humiliábit illos, qui est ante saecula.
Non enim est illis commutátio, et non timuérunt Deum. Exténdit manum suam in retribuéndo;
Contaminavérunt testaméntum ejus: divísi sunt ab ira vultus ejus, et appropinquávit cor illíus.
Mollíti sunt sermónes ejus super óleum; et ipsi sunt jácula.
Jacta super Dóminum curam tuam, et ipse
[column B]
te enútriet; non dabit in ætérnum fluctuatiónem justo.
Tu vero, Deus, dedúces eos in púteum intéritus.
Viri sánguinum et dolósi non dimidiábunt dies suos; ego autem sperábo in te, Dómine. Autet dominus captuitate plebis sue.
Miserére mei, Deus, quóniam conculcávit me homo; tota die impúgnans, tribulávit me.
Conculcavérunt me inimíci mei tota die, quóniam multi bellan-
Cleveland Leaf 17 Recto Translation
[Psalms 54:19-55:3]
...for among many they were with me. 20 God shall hear, and the Eternal shall humble them. For there is no change with them, and they have not feared God: 21 he hath stretched forth his hand to repay. They have defiled his covenant, 22 they are divided by the wrath of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts. 23 Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall not suffer the just to waver for ever. 24 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee, O Lord.
[one line untranslated]
2 Have mercy on me, O God, for man hath trodden me under foot; all the day long he hath afflicted me fighting against me. 3 My enemies have trodden on me all the day long; for they are many that make...
Cleveland Leaf 17 Verso
Cleveland Public Library Leaf 17 Verso
Cleveland Leaf 17 Verso Transcription
[column A]
-tes advérsum me.
Ab altitúdine diéi timébo: ego vero in te sperábo.
In Deo laudábo sermónes meos; in Deo sperávi: non timébo quid fáciat mihi caro.
Tota die verba mea execrabántur; advérsum me omnes cogitatiónes eórum in malum.
Inhabitábunt, et abscóndent; ipsi calcáneum meum observábunt.
Sicut sustinuérunt ánimam meam, pro
[column B]
níhilo salvos fácies illos; in ira pópulos confrínges.
Deus, vitam meam annuntiávi tibi; posuísti lácrimas meas in conspéctu tuo,
Sicut et in promissióne tua: tunc converténtur inimíci mei retrórsum.
In quacúmque die invocávero te, ecce cognóvi quóniam Deus meus es.
In Deo laudábo verbum; in Dómino laudábo sermónem. In Deo sperávi: non timébo quid fáciat mihi homo.
Cleveland Leaf 17 Verso Translation
[Psalms 55:3-11]
...war against me. 4 From the height of the day I shall fear: but I will trust in thee. 5 In God I will praise my words, in God I have put my trust: I will not fear what flesh can do against me. 6 All the day long they detested my words: all their thoughts were against me unto evil. 7 They will dwell and hide themselves: they will watch my heel. As they have waited for my soul, 8 for nothing shalt thou save them: in thy anger thou shalt break the people in pieces. O God, 9 I have declared to thee my life: thou hast set my tears in thy sight, As also in thy promise. 10 Then shall my enemies be turned back. In what day soever I shall call upon thee, behold I know thou art my God. 11 In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech. In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.