University of South Carolina 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 123:8-125:2 (recto) and 125:2-126:3 (verso).
South Carolina Leaf 10 Recto
University of South Carolina Leaf 10 Recto
South Carolina Leaf 10 Recto Transcription
Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini, qui fecit cælum et terram.
Qui confídunt in Dómino, sicut mons Sion: non commovébitur in ætérnum, qui hábitat in Jerúsalem.
Montes in circúitu ejus; et Dóminus in circúitu pópuli sui, ex hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
Quia non relínquet Dóminus virgam peccatórum super sortem justórum: ut non exténdant justi ad iniquitátem manus suas,
Bénefac, Dómine, bonis, et rectis corde.
Declinántes autem in obligatiónes, addúcet Dóminus cum operántibus iniquitátem. Pax super Israël!
In converténdo Dóminus captivitátem Syon, facti sumus sicut consoláti.
Tunc replétum est gáudio os nostrum, et lingua nostra exsultatióne.
Tunc dicent inter gentes: Magnificávit
South Carolina Leaf 10 Recto Translation
[Psalms 123:8-125:2]
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth 2 in Jerusalem. Mountains are round about it: so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth now and for ever. 3 For the Lord will not leave the rod of sinners upon the lot of the just: that the just may not stretch forth their hands to iniquity. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those that are good, and to the upright of heart. 5 But such as turn aside into bonds, the Lord shall lead out with the workers of iniquity: peace upon Israel.
When the lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. 2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things...
South Carolina Leaf 10 Verso
University of South Carolina Leaf 10 Verso
South Carolina Leaf 10 Verso Transcription
Dóminus fácere cum eis.
Magnificávit Dóminus fácere nobíscum; facti sumus lætántes.
Convérte, Dómine, captivitátem nostram, sicut torrens in austro.
Qui séminant in lácrimis, in exsultatióne metent.
Eúntes ibant et flebant, mitténtes sémina sua.
Veniéntes autem vénient cum exsultatióne, portántes manípulos suos.
Nisi Dóminus ædificáverit domum, in vanum laboravérunt qui ædíficant eam.
Nisi Dóminus custodíerit civitátem, frustra vígilat qui custódit eam.
Vanum est vobis ante lucem súrgere: súrgite postquam sedéritis, qui manducátis panem dolóris.
Cum déderit diléctis suis somnum, ecce hæréditas Dómini, fílii; merces, fructus
South Carolina Leaf 10 Verso Translation
[Psalms 125:2-126:3]
2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.
Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 2 It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved, 3 behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.