“que odien la paz (Who Hate Peace)” (Ps.120 )Jerusalem Bible Reflections on Psalms Sub-Series]

Their word for hate is odion;
In English, when we dwell thereon
We would use odious to say
This thought – revulsion we’d convey.

The word sends shivers down our spines,
For “odious”, the word defines
Repugnance to a high degree,
Revulsion, for the likes of me.

This guy, the poet of the Psalm,
Lives where this attitude goes on –
A dove amongst a bunch of hawks;
No words of peace in town he walks.

So he’s fed up, harto he says,
Like after Christmas-feast one plays
One’s hand on belly, aching now
With more food than the space allows.

“Fed up”? With what’s he is fed up?
With those whose comments he finds tough;
Who say that “Peace” is odious,
Repugnant – unlike those of us –

Who long for peace; who live in peace;
Who never can feel great relief
From those who really take to war,
Preferring it – who peace deplore.

But this guy speaks of what he’s felt –
Deep anguish (as in prayer he’s knelt),
Has dominated time of prayer,
As constantly he’s tarried there.

For liberation he has prayed
To God – before Him he has laid
His deep desire for tents of peace,
And from all this to find release.

The first of Psalms “Ascending to”
Jerusalem – snapshots with views
Of songs they’d sing each year en route
To festivals as Pilgrim-group.

It seems this was a common theme
To travelers – as it has been.
To us today – “Lord, it’s a mess,
Our neighbored-world of fickleness.

I love how “Tents” has morphed into
“A business shop” in Spanish view,
For that’s where we dwell here today –
A business-world of tricky play.

For menteroso (tricky) tongue.
Describes such salesmen – they’re the ones
Who interface with customers –
To whom this Psalm’s “Fed up” referrers.

In Hebrew, “Peace” (shalom) refers
To wholeness – for which one prefers
To stay intact, no strip removed
From health and life which we’ve approved.

Their daily greeting this reflects –
“Are you intact?” Is what they check;
“Or has some part been stripped away
As we meet-up at work or play?”

In business, same word here is used –
I buy some meat, and then I choose
To fill up, or restore once more,
The butcher’s “Wholeness”, in his store.

Our Psalmist dwells in “Tents” of biz,
With “Tricky tongues”; he fed up is –
He prays for “Peace” or “Wholeness” – there
En route to Festival – their prayer.

Thanks Lord for this.

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