The Book of Psalms, Chapter 78תהלים 78

מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי פִֽי

[Maschil of Asaph.] Give ear, O my people, my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי קֶֽדֶם

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ לָֽנוּ

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה

We will not hide from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of YHWH, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has done.

וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם

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:

לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם

That the generation to come might know the children should be born; should arise and declare to their children:

וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

בְּֽנֵי אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב

The children of Ephraim, armed, carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת

They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם

And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה צֹֽעַן

Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, the field of Zoan.

בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ נֵֽד

He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכָל הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ

In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave drink as the great depths.

וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.

וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה

And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.

וַיְנַסּוּ אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאָל אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם

And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר

Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

הֵ֤ן הִכָּה צ֨וּר וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ

Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

לָכֵ֤ן שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Therefore YHWH heard , and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;

כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:

וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,

וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ

And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.

לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע

Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.

יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן

He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף

He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו

And he let fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.

וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם

So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;

לֹא זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם

They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat yet in their mouths,

וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ

The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen of Israel.

בְּכָל זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו

For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.

וַיְכַל בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה

Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

אִם הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ אֵֽל

When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם

And they remembered that God their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ לֽוֹ

Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied to him with their tongues.

וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ

For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא יָ֝עִיר כָּל חֲמָתֽוֹ

But he, full of compassion, forgave iniquity, and destroyed not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב

For he remembered that they flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן

How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, grieve him in the desert!

וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ

Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

לֹא זָכְר֥וּ אֶת יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי צָֽר

They remembered not his hand, the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

אֲשֶׁר שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה צֹֽעַן

How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:

וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן

And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.

יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם

He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה

He gave also their increase to the caterpiller, and their labour to the locust.

יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל

He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.

וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים

He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.

יְשַׁלַּח בָּ֨ם חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים

He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels .

יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר

He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי חָֽם

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר

But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם

And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ

And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, this mountain, his right hand had purchased.

וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ

Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה

But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ

For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

When God heard , he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם

So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent he placed among men;

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד צָֽר

And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר

He gave his people over also to the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.

בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ

The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.

כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה

Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן

Then YHWH awaked as one out of sleep, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.

וַיַּךְ צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ

And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.

וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר

Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:

וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב

But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.

וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם

And he built his sanctuary like high , like the earth which he has established for ever.

וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן

He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ

From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם

So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.