in this view, but very great obscurity
in the double ellipsis now proposed. In the received translation we have a
transitive verb, and a noun, obviously its accusative, according to the
natural sequence and simple construction of the Hebrew language. In the
proposed rendering we must understand an accusative case after _giveth_
(i.e. _bread_, as Rosenmueller and others observe), and a particle before
_sleep_. The transitive verb has no subject; the noun nothing to govern it.
We must guess at both.

As for the alleged instances of ellipses, I maintain they are not
analogous. I cannot call to mind any which are; and if any of your
correspondents would show some they would do good service. Hengstenberg's
examples of [Hebrew: TSRB], [Hebrew: BQR], &c. are surely not in point. We
have a similar ellipsis, often used in idiomatic English, _morning_,
_noon_, and _night_; but who would say _sleep_, instead of _in sleep_, or
_while asleep_? The ellipses in the Psalms, in the Songs of Degrees
themselves, are very numerous, but they are of a different nature; and
neither the position nor the nature of the word [Hebrew: SHN'] warrants
that now defended, as far I can remember.

May I remark, by the way, that the Psalm falls rather into three strophes
than into two. The first speaks of the raising up of the house, and of the
city (an aggregation of houses), protected by the Almighty. The last is in
parallelism to the first, though, as often happens, expanded; and speaks of
the raising up of the family, and of the family arrived at maturity, the
defenders of the city, through the same protecting Providence. The central
portion is the main and cardinal sentiment, viz. the vanity of mere human
labour, and the peace of those who are beloved of God.

JOHN JEBB.

There is a proverb which foretells peril to such as interpose in the
quarrels of others. But as neither Mr. Trench, nor E. M. B., nor MR.
MARGOLIOUTH, have as yet betrayed any disposition to quarrel about the
question in dispute, a looker-on need not be afraid of interposing.

The Query, about the solution of which they differ, is the proper mode of
rendering the last clause of v. 2. Ps. cxxvii. In our Liturgy and Bible it
is rendered, "_For_ so He giveth His beloved sleep;" of which E. M. B.
says, "It seems to me to be correct;" though he justly observes that "He
will give" would be more close. Mr. Trench appears to have rendered it, "He
giveth His beloved _in their_ sleep." M