My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. (Psalm 119: 28-29)
We no longer much use the word "vex." As in, I am vexed. It is an old word with even older roots. For the Romans vexare meant to set in motion. Vexare emerged from the Indo-European wegh as in wegh-ya which means voyage or journey.
The Hebrew for sorrow, as used above, is tugah. This is derived from yagah, which is derived from the Indo-European wegh-ya. This is a sorrow that is related to the burdens of travel, something we have all experienced at some time or another.
Most journeys begin with great enthusiasm. Some journeys are afflicted with delays, distractions, break-downs, detours, wrong turns, getting lost, back-tracks, and more. In making the journey we may entirely lose our initial enthusiasm.
But usually we persist. Most of the time we continue to our destination and usually I am glad to have made the trip. The troubles can become material for hilarious stories. If I shared the trip with others, we often emerge better friends than when a journey goes as planned.
But still I would prefer to stay mostly on the right way and make reasonable progress. There are enough vexing problems in making life's journey without seeking out more. Dear God, put false ways far from me. Keep me on the path you intend.
We no longer much use the word "vex." As in, I am vexed. It is an old word with even older roots. For the Romans vexare meant to set in motion. Vexare emerged from the Indo-European wegh as in wegh-ya which means voyage or journey.
The Hebrew for sorrow, as used above, is tugah. This is derived from yagah, which is derived from the Indo-European wegh-ya. This is a sorrow that is related to the burdens of travel, something we have all experienced at some time or another.
Most journeys begin with great enthusiasm. Some journeys are afflicted with delays, distractions, break-downs, detours, wrong turns, getting lost, back-tracks, and more. In making the journey we may entirely lose our initial enthusiasm.
But usually we persist. Most of the time we continue to our destination and usually I am glad to have made the trip. The troubles can become material for hilarious stories. If I shared the trip with others, we often emerge better friends than when a journey goes as planned.
But still I would prefer to stay mostly on the right way and make reasonable progress. There are enough vexing problems in making life's journey without seeking out more. Dear God, put false ways far from me. Keep me on the path you intend.
posted by Didymus | 4:42 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home