< Psalms 78 >

1 An instruction. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תֹּורָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃
2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles from of old,
אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝ידֹ֗ות מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us:
אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבֹותֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃
4 We will not hide [them] from their sons, shewing forth to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength, and his marvellous works which he hath done.
לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְדֹ֥ור אַחֲרֹ֗ון מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלֹּ֣ות יְהוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּזֹ֥ו וְ֝נִפְלְאֹותָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתֹורָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבֹותֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הֹודִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃
6 That the generation to come might know [them], the children that should be born; that they might rise up and tell [them] to their children,
לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דֹּ֣ור אַ֭חֲרֹון בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃
7 And that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but observe his commandments;
וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֹתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that prepared not their heart, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבֹותָ֗ם דֹּור֮ סֹורֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דֹּ֭ור לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבֹּ֑ו וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֹֽו׃
9 The sons of Ephraim, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נֹושְׁקֵ֥י רֹומֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּיֹ֣ום קְרָֽב׃
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתֹורָתֹ֗ו מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃
11 And forgot his doings, and his marvellous works which he had shewn them.
וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילֹותָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאֹותָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃
12 In the sight of their fathers had he done wonders, in the land of Egypt, the field of Zoan.
נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בֹותָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃
13 He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; and made the waters to stand as a heap;
בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמֹו־נֵֽד׃
14 And he led them with a cloud in the daytime, and all the night with the light of fire.
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יֹומָ֑ם וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּאֹ֣ור אֵֽשׁ׃
15 He clave rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as out of the depths, abundantly;
יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמֹ֥ות רַבָּֽה׃
16 And he brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
וַיֹּוצִ֣א נֹוזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֖ורֶד כַּנְּהָרֹ֣ות מָֽיִם׃
17 Yet they still went on sinning against him, provoking the Most High in the desert;
וַיֹּוסִ֣יפוּ עֹ֖וד לַחֲטֹא־לֹ֑ו לַֽמְרֹ֥ות עֶ֝לְיֹ֗ון בַּצִּיָּֽה׃
18 And they tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their lust;
וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃
19 And they spoke against God: they said, Is God able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
20 Behold, he smote the rock, and waters gushed out, and streams overflowed; is he able to give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמֹּֽו׃
21 Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; and fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also went up against Israel:
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
22 Because they believed not in God, and confided not in his salvation;
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֹֽו׃
23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of the heavens,
וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the corn of the heavens.
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמֹו׃
25 Man did eat the bread of the mighty; he sent them provision to the full.
לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃
26 He caused the east wind to rise in the heavens, and by his strength he brought the south wind;
יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזֹּ֣ו תֵימָֽן׃
27 And he rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowl as the sand of the seas,
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְחֹ֥ול יַ֝מִּ֗ים עֹ֣וף כָּנָֽף׃
28 And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations:
וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃
29 And they did eat, and were well filled; for that they lusted after, he brought to them.
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃
30 They were not alienated from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,
לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם עֹ֝֗וד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃
31 When the anger of God went up against them; and he slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃
32 For all this, they sinned still, and believed not in his marvellous works;
בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־עֹ֑וד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאֹותָֽיו׃
33 And he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנֹותָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃
34 When he slew them, then they sought him, and returned and sought early after God;
אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and God, the Most High, their redeemer.
וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיֹון גֹּאֲלָֽם׃
36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongue;
וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשֹׁונָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֹֽו׃
37 For their heart was not firm toward him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכֹ֣ון עִמֹּ֑ו וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֹֽו׃
38 But he was merciful: he forgave the iniquity, and destroyed [them] not; but many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his fury:
וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֹן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפֹּ֑ו וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֹֽו׃
39 And he remembered that they were flesh, a breath that passeth away and cometh not again.
וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ הֹ֝ולֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֹֽון׃
41 And they turned again and tempted God, and grieved the Holy One of Israel.
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְדֹ֖ושׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃
42 They remembered not his hand, the day when he delivered them from the oppressor,
לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָדֹ֑ו יֹ֝֗ום אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃
43 How he set his signs in Egypt, and his miracles in the field of Zoan;
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתֹותָ֑יו וּ֝מֹופְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃
44 And turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink;
וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃
45 He sent dog-flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them;
יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃
46 And he gave their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust;
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃
47 He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with hail-stones;
יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמֹותָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃
48 And he delivered up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to thunderbolts.
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and distress, — a mission of angels of woes.
יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲרֹ֬ון אַפֹּ֗ו עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃
50 He made a way for his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פֹּ֥ו לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃
51 And he smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first-fruits of their vigour in the tents of Ham.
וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכֹ֣ור בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝ונִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃
52 And he made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמֹּ֑ו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
53 And he led them safely, so that they were without fear; and the sea covered their enemies.
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־אֹ֝ויְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃
54 And he brought them to his holy border, this mountain, which his right hand purchased;
וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשֹׁ֑ו הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֹֽו׃
55 And he drove out the nations before them, and allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גֹּויִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
56 But they tempted and provoked God, the Most High, and kept not his testimonies,
וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְיֹ֑ון וְ֝עֵדֹותָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃
57 And they drew back and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they turned like a deceitful bow.
וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבֹותָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃
58 And they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמֹותָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃
59 God heard, and was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
60 And he forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he had dwelt among men,
וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁלֹ֑ו אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃
61 And gave his strength into captivity, and his glory into the hand of the oppressor;
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזֹּ֑ו וְֽתִפְאַרְתֹּ֥ו בְיַד־צָֽר׃
62 And delivered up his people unto the sword, and was very wroth with his inheritance:
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמֹּ֑ו וּ֝בְנַחֲלָתֹ֗ו הִתְעַבָּֽר׃
63 The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not praised in [nuptial] song;
בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃
64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.
כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃
65 Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, like a mighty man that shouteth aloud by reason of wine;
וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבֹּ֗ור מִתְרֹונֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃
66 And he smote his adversaries in the hinder part, and put them to everlasting reproach.
וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָחֹ֑ור חֶרְפַּ֥ת עֹ֝ולָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמֹו׃
67 And he rejected the tent of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim,
וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יֹוסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved;
וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יֹּ֗ון אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃
69 And he built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.
וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמֹו־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשֹׁ֑ו כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעֹולָֽם׃
70 And he chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדֹּ֑ו וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃
71 From following the suckling-ewes, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
מֵאַחַ֥ר עָלֹ֗ות הֱ֫בִיאֹ֥ו לִ֭רְעֹות בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמֹּ֑ו וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֹֽו׃
72 And he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and led them by the skilfulness of his hands.
וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָבֹ֑ו וּבִתְבוּנֹ֖ות כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃

< Psalms 78 >