On Monday 11.10.2021, a race was held in the Blackwell Hall of the Weston Library, Oxford, between two calligraphers, a printer, and a coder: a race to transcribe and 'publish' twenty-two verses from Psalm 106. This website contains the results of that race.
Intended as an engaging exploration of some of the different approaches to transcription and publication that have become technologically viable over the last several hundred years, the race began at 1pm, transcribing the psalm, as below. By 2:25pm, this website was online, pending the results of the other participants!
The race is the result of a collaboration between the Bodleian Libraries' Centre for the Study of the Book, and Digital Scholarship @ Oxford (DiSc).
Psalm 107 vv. 21-43
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse: and for his wonderfull workes, to the children of men.
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thankesgiuing: and declare his workes with reioycing.
They that goe downe to the sea in shippes: that doe businesse in great waters:
These see the workes of the Lord: and his wonders in the deepe.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy winde: which lifteth vp the waues thereof.
They mount vp to the heauen: they goe downe againe to the depthes: their soule is melted because of trouble.
They reele to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man; and are at their wits end.
Then they cry vnto the Lord in their trouble: and hee bringeth them out of their distresses.
He maketh the storme a calme: so that the waues thereof are still.
Then are they glad, because they be quiet: so he bringeth them vnto their desired hauen.
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse; and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men:
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders.
Hee turneth riuers into a wildernesse: and the water springs into dry ground:
A fruitfull land into barrennesse; for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein.
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell; that they may prepare a citie for habitation,
And sowe the fields, and plant vineyards; which may yeeld fruits of increase.
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly: and suffreth not their cattell to decrease.
Againe, they are minished and brought lowe through oppression, affliction and sorrow.
Hee powreth contempt vpon princes: and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Yet setteth he the poore on high from affliction: and maketh him families like a flocke.
The righteous shall see it, and reioyce; and all iniquitie shall stop her mouth.
Who so is wise, and will obserue those things; euen they shall vnderstand the louing kindenesse of the Lord.
Psalm 107 vv. 21-43
21. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse: and for his wonderfull workes, to the children of men.
22. And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thankesgiuing: and declare his workes with reioycing.
23. They that goe downe to the sea in shippes: that doe businesse in great waters:
24. These see the workes of the Lord: and his wonders in the deepe.
25. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy winde: which lifteth vp the waues thereof.
26. They mount vp to the heauen: they goe downe againe to the depthes: their soule is melted because of trouble.
27. They reele to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man; and are at their wits end.
28. Then they cry vnto the Lord in their trouble: and hee bringeth them out of their distresses.
29. He maketh the storme a calme: so that the waues thereof are still.
30. Then are they glad, because they be quiet: so he bringeth them vnto their desired hauen.
31. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodnesse; and for his wonderfull workes to the children of men:
32. Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the Elders.
33. Hee turneth riuers into a wildernesse: and the water springs into dry ground:
34. A fruitfull land into barrennesse; for the wickednesse of them that dwell therein.
35. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell; that they may prepare a citie for habitation,
36. And sowe the fields, and plant vineyards; which may yeeld fruits of increase.
37. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly: and suffreth not their cattell to decrease.
38. Againe, they are minished and brought lowe through oppression, affliction and sorrow.
39. Hee powreth contempt vpon princes: and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
40. Yet setteth he the poore on high from affliction: and maketh him families like a flocke.
41. The righteous shall see it, and reioyce; and all iniquitie shall stop her mouth.
42. Who so is wise, and will obserue those things; euen they shall vnderstand the louing kindenesse of the Lord.
