Optymizm moralny w Pierwszej Księdze Psalmów

Abstract

The title of the paper: “Moral Optimism in the Psalter’s Book I” summarizes an observation that the authors or redactors of some Psalms express an optimistic view on the moral condition of their nature. It is not to say that they did not notice their failures and shortcomings, or that they were not repentant for them. It is to say that there are instances where they were positively optimistic about their moral condition. The issue seems worth noting because of significance of the Psalms for one of the most important institutions of the Old Testament, which is prayer – in its both personal as well as cultic dimensions. The observations noted in the paper lead the author to five conclusions: An optimistic view on human moral condition (1) may mean that there is an individual righteousness – even though limited and contextualized – able to stand the scrutiny of God’s judgment; (2) may mean that positive characteristics of the righteous, the blameless and the guiltless are not to be thought of as purely theoretical; (3) may mean that trust and love toward God may have at least some aspect of adequacy; (4) balances the pessimistic view on a human being; (5) adds value to the dignity of a man.