Psalmorum 78
1 Intellectus Asaph. Attendite, popule meus, legem meam; inclinate aurem vestram in verba oris mei.
Maschil. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.
2 Aperiam in parabolis os meum; loquar propositiones ab initio.
Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;
3 Quanta audivimus, et cognovimus ea, et patres nostri narraverunt nobis.
Which have come to our hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers.
4 Non sunt occultata a filiis eorum in generatione altera, narrantes laudes Domini et virtutes ejus, et mirabilia ejus quæ fecit.
We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done.
5 Et suscitavit testimonium in Jacob, et legem posuit in Israël, quanta mandavit patribus nostris nota facere ea filiis suis:
He put up a witness in Jacob, and made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give knowledge of them to their children;
6 ut cognoscat generatio altera: filii qui nascentur et exsurgent, et narrabunt filiis suis,
So that the generation to come might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would give word of them to their children;
7 ut ponant in Deo spem suam, et non obliviscantur operum Dei, et mandata ejus exquirant:
So that they might put their hope in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;
8 ne fiant, sicut patres eorum, generatio prava et exasperans; generatio quæ non direxit cor suum, et non est creditus cum Deo spiritus ejus.
And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to God.
9 Filii Ephrem, intendentes et mittentes arcum, conversi sunt in die belli.
The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the day of the fight.
10 Non custodierunt testamentum Dei, et in lege ejus noluerunt ambulare.
They were not ruled by God's word, and they would not go in the way of his law;
11 Et obliti sunt benefactorum ejus, et mirabilium ejus quæ ostendit eis.
They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.
12 Coram patribus eorum fecit mirabilia in terra Ægypti, in campo Taneos.
He did great works before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 Interrupit mare, et perduxit eos, et statuit aquas quasi in utre:
The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters were massed together on this side and on that.
14 et deduxit eos in nube diei, et tota nocte in illuminatione ignis.
In the daytime he was guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.
15 Interrupit petram in eremo, et adaquavit eos velut in abysso multa.
The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.
16 Et eduxit aquam de petra, et deduxit tamquam flumina aquas.
He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.
17 Et apposuerunt adhuc peccare ei; in iram excitaverunt Excelsum in inaquoso.
And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;
18 Et tentaverunt Deum in cordibus suis, ut peterent escas animabus suis.
Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.
19 Et male locuti sunt de Deo; dixerunt: Numquid poterit Deus parare mensam in deserto?
They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?
20 quoniam percussit petram, et fluxerunt aquæ, et torrentes inundaverunt. Numquid et panem poterit dare, aut parare mensam populo suo?
See, the rock was cut open by his power, so that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people?
21 Ideo audivit Dominus et distulit; et ignis accensus est in Jacob, et ira ascendit in Israël:
So these things came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel;
22 quia non crediderunt in Deo, nec speraverunt in salutari ejus.
Because they had no faith in God, and no hope in his salvation.
23 Et mandavit nubibus desuper, et januas cæli aperuit.
And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;
24 Et pluit illis manna ad manducandum, et panem cæli dedit eis.
And he sent down manna like rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Panem angelorum manducavit homo; cibaria misit eis in abundantia.
Man took part in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure.
26 Transtulit austrum de cælo, et induxit in virtute sua africum.
He sent an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power.
27 Et pluit super eos sicut pulverem carnes, et sicut arenam maris volatilia pennata.
He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,
28 Et ceciderunt in medio castrorum eorum, circa tabernacula eorum.
And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about their tents.
29 Et manducaverunt, et saturati sunt nimis, et desiderium eorum attulit eis:
So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;
30 non sunt fraudati a desiderio suo. Adhuc escæ eorum erant in ore ipsorum,
But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,
31 et ira Dei ascendit super eos: et occidit pingues eorum, et electos Israël impedivit.
The wrath of God came on them, and put to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.
32 In omnibus his peccaverunt adhuc, et non crediderunt in mirabilibus ejus.
For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his great wonders.
33 Et defecerunt in vanitate dies eorum, et anni eorum cum festinatione.
So their days were wasted like a breath, and their years in trouble.
34 Cum occideret eos, quærebant eum et revertebantur, et diluculo veniebant ad eum.
When he sent death on them, then they made search for him; turning to him and looking for him with care;
35 Et rememorati sunt quia Deus adjutor est eorum, et Deus excelsus redemptor eorum est.
In the memory that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour.
36 Et dilexerunt eum in ore suo, et lingua sua mentiti sunt ei;
But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him;
37 cor autem eorum non erat rectum cum eo, nec fideles habiti sunt in testamento ejus.
And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him.
38 Ipse autem est misericors, et propitius fiet peccatis eorum, et non disperdet eos. Et abundavit ut averteret iram suam, et non accendit omnem iram suam.
But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.
39 Et recordatus est quia caro sunt, spiritus vadens et non rediens.
So he kept in mind that they were only flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again.
40 Quoties exacerbaverunt eum in deserto; in iram concitaverunt eum in inaquoso?
How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!
41 Et conversi sunt, et tentaverunt Deum, et sanctum Israël exacerbaverunt.
Again they put God to the test, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Non sunt recordati manus ejus, die qua redemit eos de manu tribulantis:
They did not keep in mind the work of his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters;
43 sicut posuit in Ægypto signa sua, et prodigia sua in campo Taneos;
How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;
44 et convertit in sanguinem flumina eorum, et imbres eorum, ne biberent.
So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to get drink from their streams.
45 Misit in eos cœnomyiam, et comedit eos, et ranam, et disperdidit eos;
He sent different sorts of flies among them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction.
46 et dedit ærugini fructus eorum, et labores eorum locustæ;
He gave the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the locusts.
47 et occidit in grandine vineas eorum, et moros eorum in pruina;
He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees were damaged by the bitter cold.
48 et tradidit grandini jumenta eorum, et possessionem eorum igni;
Ice was rained down on their cattle; thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks.
49 misit in eos iram indignationis suæ, indignationem, et iram, et tribulationem, immissiones per angelos malos.
He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.
50 Viam fecit semitæ iræ suæ: non pepercit a morte animabus eorum, et jumenta eorum in morte conclusit:
He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul from death, but gave their life to disease.
51 et percussit omne primogenitum in terra Ægypti; primitias omnis laboris eorum in tabernaculis Cham:
He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 et abstulit sicut oves populum suum, et perduxit eos tamquam gregem in deserto:
But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.
53 et deduxit eos in spe, et non timuerunt, et inimicos eorum operuit mare.
He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.
54 Et induxit eos in montem sanctificationis suæ, montem quem acquisivit dextera ejus; et ejecit a facie eorum gentes, et sorte divisit eis terram in funiculo distributionis;
And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;
55 et habitare fecit in tabernaculis eorum tribus Israël.
Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.
56 Et tentaverunt, et exacerbaverunt Deum excelsum, et testimonia ejus non custodierunt.
But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;
57 Et averterunt se, et non servaverunt pactum: quemadmodum patres eorum, conversi sunt in arcum pravum.
Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.
58 In iram concitaverunt eum in collibus suis, et in sculptilibus suis ad æmulationem eum provocaverunt.
They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.
59 Audivit Deus, et sprevit, et ad nihilum redegit valde Israël.
When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;
60 Et repulit tabernaculum Silo, tabernaculum suum, ubi habitavit in hominibus.
So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;
61 Et tradidit in captivitatem virtutem eorum, et pulchritudinem eorum in manus inimici.
And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.
62 Et conclusit in gladio populum suum, et hæreditatem suam sprevit.
He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.
63 Juvenes eorum comedit ignis, et virgines eorum non sunt lamentatæ.
Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.
64 Sacerdotes eorum in gladio ceciderunt, et viduæ eorum non plorabantur.
Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.
65 Et excitatus est tamquam dormiens Dominus, tamquam potens crapulatus a vino.
Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.
66 Et percussit inimicos suos in posteriora; opprobrium sempiternum dedit illis.
His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.
67 Et repulit tabernaculum Joseph, et tribum Ephraim non elegit:
And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 sed elegit tribum Juda, montem Sion, quem dilexit.
But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.
69 Et ædificavit sicut unicornium sanctificium suum, in terra quam fundavit in sæcula.
And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.
70 Et elegit David, servum suum, et sustulit eum de gregibus ovium; de post fœtantes accepit eum:
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
71 pascere Jacob servum suum, et Israël hæreditatem suam.
From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.
72 Et pavit eos in innocentia cordis sui, et in intellectibus manuum suarum deduxit eos.
So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.
