The poet receives by revelation what he desires to teach. He will bend his ear to listen to the voice of God before he ventures himself to speak to men. Mâshâl, rendered parable, means (1) primarily a comparison, (2) a proverb, as frequently involving a comparison, (3) a parable, as the extension of a proverb, (4) a poem, either contemptuous (Isaiah 14:4) or didactic, as here. Chîdâh, denotes (1) an enigmaor riddle(Judges 14:12 f.; 1 Kings 10:1), (2) a parableor simile(Ezekiel 17:2), (3) any profoundor obscure utterance, a problem, dark saying. Both words occur together in Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6; Ezekiel 17:2. The prosperity of the godless was one of the great -enigmas of life" to the pious Israelite, demanding a solution which could only be partially given before the fuller revelation of Christ "brought life and immortality to light." What he has learned on this perplexing question he will open upon the harp, set it forth in a poem accompanied by music.

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