Applying this principle to the book of the Psalms, we find that Psalm 3

has a superscription, but that the words of Habakkuk 3:19, instead of being used

as a subscription to the Psalm are transferred as a title for Psalm 4.  These

titles and subtitles are all restored to their true place in The Companion

Bible, Psalm 8, reading:

A Psalm of David.

The Psalm itself. (Verses 1-9).

To the Chief Musician upon Muth-labben.

The words Upon Muth-labben being the subscription of Psalm 8, not the

superscription of Psalm 9.

The meaning of the words of the subscription Upon Muth-labben.

The reader may not be conscious as he reads the words `upon Muth-labben'

that it is already assumed without proof that the word `upon' is of necessity a

true translation of the Hebrew word employed.  Al standing alone is often

translated `upon', but until we are sure that these two letters do stand alone,

we are prejudicing the reader from the start.  It seems that the Septuagint

translators knew that AlMuth-labben came at the end of Psalm 8, for the words

eis to telos `unto the end' are inserted.  If the reader consults Young's

Analytical Concordance, he will find that the words Muth-labben are not

translated `death of the champion' but `death of Ben, or of the Son'.

Again, if he looks for the word labben in Wigram's Englishman's Hebrew and

Chaldee Concordance, he will not find it, but he will find the term under the

heading Ben `son'.  We cannot therefore endorse the statement that there is

nothing about a `son' in either Psalm 8 or 9, for most readers will know that

the word Ben `son' occurs in Psalm 8.  Neither is it true that all are agreed

that muth can only mean `death' for the LXX does not so translate the word, and

these translators were nearer to the times of David than we are by over two

thousand years.  What the LXX saw in the words AlMuth-labben is made evident by

their rendering huper ton kruphion tou huiou `concerning the secrets of the

Son'.  There is another Psalm where the LXX uses these words huper ton kruphion

`concerning the secrets', and that is at the foot of Psalm 45, where the

Authorized Version reads `Upon Alamoth'.  Do these words strike any chord in the

reader's mind?  Remembering that originally there was no division made between

words, as now, let us put in English letters the two subscriptions to these two

The subscription to Psalm 8 reads AlMuth-labben.

The subscription to Psalm 45 reads Alalamoth.

In both, the Septuagint sees the word `secret'.  How is this?  Alalamoth

is considered to mean `relating to the maidens', the word almah being the Hebrew

for a maiden.

At the close of Psalm 48, we have the words `unto death' which in the

Hebrew reads Almuth, but which this translation divides into two, al `unto' muth

`death'.  The LXX however considered it to be one word almuth, eis tous aionas

`for ever', or `unto the ages'.  The structure of Psalm 48 (see The Companion