u/Emotional_Alfalfa692

Finding the best phrasing (Homeric)

I am trying to form the best phrasing for this line from the lyrics of “Wandering Star” by Portishead. It’s the line “The blackness, the darkness, forever”. Now I have the option to keep to it and I’m preferring this style: “ὁ ζόφος, τὸ σκότος, αἰέν”, since it’s the closest to the original and uses the biblical words (and the original lyrics) from these biblical lines:

Jude 1:13: “κύματα ἄγρια θαλάσσης ἐπαφρίζοντα τὰς ἑαυτῶν αἰσχύνας, ἀστέρες πλανῆται οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους εἰς αἰῶνα τετήρηται”
“Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” 

And 2 Peter 2:17: “οἷς ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους εἰς αἰῶνα τετήρηται”, “for whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever”.

I’m aware that New Testament Greek uses εἰς αἰῶνα ("unto the age"), but I’ve fallen into using αἰέν to give the phrasing the "Homeric" / epic energy.

Now, I have the opportunity to also deviate slightly from the lyrics, but I want to keep it poetic and am not that well versed, so this is why I am asking. 

I already use the “death-mist” as a symbol in my writing, so I’ve considered instead of, “τὸ σκότος”: The general state of absence of light; often used for spiritual blindness. I was thinking I could do, “ἡ ἀχλύς, ὁ ζόφος, αἰέν” to keep the form of darkness associated with darkness of the underworld (Erebus) and blackness of the dead. 

Option 1: Ο ΖΟΦΟΣ · ΤΟ ΣΚΟΤΟΣ · ΑΙΕΝ. (The Blackness, The Darkness, forever.)

Option 2: Η ΑΧΛΥΣ · Ο ΖΟΦΟΣ· ΑΙΕΝ

This would then instead read as: “The Death-mist (the sensation of the coming of death’s blackness), The Darkness (the destination of the underworld, complete gloom), forever.”

Firstly, correct me as you’re able since I’m learning and share any other options that tie in mythology if you have them; but I’m just curious what reads best? I'm even considering getting it tattooed so please take your time helping me out here.

Much appreciated!

Thank you to any and all help offered.

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u/Emotional_Alfalfa692 — 24 days ago