תְהִלִּים 78
| מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תֹּורָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ | 1 |
A psalm (maskil) of Asaph. Listen to what I have to teach you, my people; hear what I have to say.
| אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝ידֹ֗ות מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃ | 2 |
I will tell you wise sayings; I will explain mysteries from the past
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבֹותֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃ | 3 |
that we have heard before and reflected on; stories our forefathers passed down to us.
| לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְדֹ֥ור אַחֲרֹ֗ון מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלֹּ֣ות יְהוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּזֹ֥ו וְ֝נִפְלְאֹותָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃ | 4 |
We will not keep them from our children; we will tell the next generation about God's marvelous actions—about his power and the amazing things he has done.
| וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתֹורָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבֹותֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הֹודִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | 5 |
He gave his laws to the descendants of Jacob; his instructions to the people of Israel. He commanded our forefathers to teach them to their children,
| לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דֹּ֣ור אַ֭חֲרֹון בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | 6 |
so that the next generation—children yet to be born—would understand and grow up to teach their children.
| וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֹתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | 7 |
In this way they should place their trust in God and not forget what God has done, and keep his commandments.
| וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבֹותָ֗ם דֹּור֮ סֹורֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דֹּ֭ור לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבֹּ֑ו וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֹֽו׃ | 8 |
Then they would not be like their forefathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation that was untrustworthy and unfaithful.
| בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נֹושְׁקֵ֥י רֹומֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּיֹ֣ום קְרָֽב׃ | 9 |
The soldiers of Ephraim, though armed with bows, ran away on the day of battle.
| לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתֹורָתֹ֗ו מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃ | 10 |
They did not keep God's agreement, and refused to follow his laws.
| וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילֹותָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאֹותָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃ | 11 |
They ignored what he had done, and the amazing things he had shown them—
| נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בֹותָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | 12 |
the miracles he had performed for their forefathers near Zoan in Egypt.
| בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמֹו־נֵֽד׃ | 13 |
He split the sea in two and led them through, making the water stand like walls on either side.
| וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יֹומָ֑ם וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּאֹ֣ור אֵֽשׁ׃ | 14 |
He led them with a cloud by day, and by night with a light of fire.
| יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמֹ֥ות רַבָּֽה׃ | 15 |
He split open rocks in the desert to give his people plenty to drink, water as deep as the ocean.
| וַיֹּוצִ֣א נֹוזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיֹּ֖ורֶד כַּנְּהָרֹ֣ות מָֽיִם׃ | 16 |
He made streams flow from the stone; water rushing down like rivers!
| וַיֹּוסִ֣יפוּ עֹ֖וד לַחֲטֹא־לֹ֑ו לַֽמְרֹ֥ות עֶ֝לְיֹ֗ון בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ | 17 |
But they repeatedly sinned against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
| וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ | 18 |
They deliberately provoked God by demanding the foods they longed for.
| וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | 19 |
They insulted God by saying, “Can God provide food here in the desert?
| הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמֹּֽו׃ | 20 |
Yes, he can strike a rock so that water gushes out like flowing rivers, but can he give us bread? Can he supply his people with meat?”
| לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 21 |
When he heard this, the Lord became very angry, burning like fire against the descendants of Jacob, furious with the people of Israel,
| כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֹֽו׃ | 22 |
for they didn't believe in God and didn't trust him to take care of them.
| וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃ | 23 |
Even so he commanded the skies above and the doors of heaven to open,
| וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמֹו׃ | 24 |
and he made manna rain down on them to eat, giving them bread from heaven.
| לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ | 25 |
Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them more than enough food.
| יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזֹּ֣ו תֵימָֽן׃ | 26 |
He sent the east wind blowing across the sky; by his power he drove the south wind.
| וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְחֹ֥ול יַ֝מִּ֗ים עֹ֣וף כָּנָֽף׃ | 27 |
He rained down meat on them as plentiful as dust; birds as numerous as sand on a beach.
| וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ | 28 |
He made them fall right in the middle of their camp, all around where they were living.
| וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃ | 29 |
They ate until they were full. He gave them the food they longed for.
| לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם עֹ֝֗וד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | 30 |
But before they satisfied their appetite, while the meat was still in their mouths,
| וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ | 31 |
God became angry with them and he killed their strongest men, striking them down in the prime of life.
| בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־עֹ֑וד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאֹותָֽיו׃ | 32 |
Despite all this they went right on sinning. Despite the miracles, they refused to trust him.
| וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנֹותָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ | 33 |
So he snuffed out their futile lives, bringing them to an end in terror.
| אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃ | 34 |
When he began killing them, the rest came back to God in repentance, praying to him.
| וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיֹון גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ | 35 |
They remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their Savior.
| וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשֹׁונָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֹֽו׃ | 36 |
They flattered him by what they told him, but they were only lying.
| וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכֹ֣ון עִמֹּ֑ו וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֹֽו׃ | 37 |
Deep down they were not sincere, and did not keep the agreement they had with him.
| וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֹן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפֹּ֑ו וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֹֽו׃ | 38 |
But being compassionate he pardoned their guilt and did not destroy all of them. He often held back his anger—he did not pour out all his fury.
| וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ הֹ֝ולֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃ | 39 |
He remembered their mortality—that they were like a puff of wind that would not return.
| כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֹֽון׃ | 40 |
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, giving him grief in the desert!
| וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְדֹ֖ושׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃ | 41 |
Again and again they provoked God, causing pain to the Holy One of Israel.
| לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָדֹ֑ו יֹ֝֗ום אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃ | 42 |
They did not remember his strength when he rescued them from their oppressors,
| אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתֹותָ֑יו וּ֝מֹופְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | 43 |
performing miracles in Egypt, doing wonderful things on the plain of Zoan.
| וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ | 44 |
There he turned their rivers and their streams into blood so that no one could drink from them.
| יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ | 45 |
He sent flies among them to destroy them, and frogs to ruin everything.
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ | 46 |
He gave their crops to locusts; everything they worked had for was taken by locusts.
| יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמֹותָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃ | 47 |
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their fig trees with freezing rain.
| וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ | 48 |
He handed over their cattle to hail and their flocks to lightning bolts.
| יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲרֹ֬ון אַפֹּ֗ו עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃ | 49 |
He poured out on them his fierce anger—rage and hostility and anguish—sending a band of destroying angels against them.
| יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פֹּ֥ו לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃ | 50 |
He sent his unrestrained anger against them; he did not spare them from death, handing them over to the plague.
| וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכֹ֣ור בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝ונִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ | 51 |
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the first to be conceived in the tents of Ham.
| וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמֹּ֑ו וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | 52 |
But he led out his people like sheep, and guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
| וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־אֹ֝ויְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃ | 53 |
He led them to safety, and they were not afraid. He drowned their enemies in the sea.
| וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשֹׁ֑ו הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֹֽו׃ | 54 |
He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land that he had conquered for them.
| וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גֹּויִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 55 |
He drove out the heathen nations before them. He divided up the land for them to own. He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
| וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְיֹ֑ון וְ֝עֵדֹותָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ | 56 |
But they provoked God Most High, rebelling against him. They did not follow what he had told them.
| וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבֹותָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃ | 57 |
Just like their forefathers they turned away from God and were unfaithful to him, as twisted as a defective bow.
| וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמֹותָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ | 58 |
They made him angry with their pagan high places of worship; they made him jealous with their idols.
| שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | 59 |
When God heard their worship he became furious and he totally rejected Israel.
| וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁלֹ֑ו אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃ | 60 |
He abandoned his place at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where he lived among the people.
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזֹּ֑ו וְֽתִפְאַרְתֹּ֥ו בְיַד־צָֽר׃ | 61 |
He surrendered the Ark of his power, allowing it to be captured; handing it over into enemy hands.
| וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמֹּ֑ו וּ֝בְנַחֲלָתֹ֗ו הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ | 62 |
He handed over his people to be slaughtered by the sword; he was furious with his chosen people.
| בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ | 63 |
Their young men were destroyed by fire; their young women had no wedding songs.
| כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ | 64 |
Their priests were killed by the sword; their widows were unable to mourn.
| וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבֹּ֗ור מִתְרֹונֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃ | 65 |
Then the Lord woke up as if from sleep, as a warrior sobering up from drinking wine.
| וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָחֹ֑ור חֶרְפַּ֥ת עֹ֝ולָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמֹו׃ | 66 |
He defeated his enemies, striking them on the back, causing them everlasting shame.
| וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יֹוסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃ | 67 |
He rejected the descendants of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
| וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יֹּ֗ון אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃ | 68 |
Instead he chose the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion which he loves.
| וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמֹו־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשֹׁ֑ו כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעֹולָֽם׃ | 69 |
There he built his sanctuary, high like the heavens, on earth that he made to last forever.
| וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדֹּ֑ו וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃ | 70 |
He chose his servant David, taking him from the sheep pens,
| מֵאַחַ֥ר עָלֹ֗ות הֱ֫בִיאֹ֥ו לִ֭רְעֹות בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמֹּ֑ו וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֹֽו׃ | 71 |
taking him from caring for the sheep and lambs to be a shepherd to the descendants of Jacob—God's special people, Israel.
| וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָבֹ֑ו וּבִתְבוּנֹ֖ות כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃ | 72 |
Like a shepherd, he took care of them with sincere devotion, leading them with skillful hands.
