Psalm 78 Participant Analysis

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Participant Analysis

  What is Participant Analysis?

Participant Analysis focuses on the characters in the psalm and asks, “Who are the main participants (or characters) in this psalm, and what are they saying or doing? It is often helpful for understanding literary structure, speaker identification, etc.

For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Participant Analysis Creator Guidelines.

There are 6 participants/characters in Psalm 78:

Asaph

David's flock
The latest generation (vv. 4, 6)
The latest generation's children (v. 6)
Israel/Jacob (vv. 71-72)

YHWH
"YHWH" (vv. 4, 21)
"God" (אֵל) (vv. 7, 8, 18, 19)
"God" (אֱלֹהִים) (vv. 7, 10, 19, 22, 31, 35, 59)
"the Most High" (עֶלְיוֹן) (v. 17)
"God, the Most High" (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן; אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן) (vv. 35, 56)
"their rock" (v. 35)
"their redeemer" (v. 35)
"the holy one of Israel" (v. 41)
"the Lord" (אֲדֹנָי) (v. 65)

The ancestors
"the ancestors" (vv. 3, 5, 8)
"Ephraimites" (v. 9)
"Israel" (v. 59)
"his [God's] people/inheritance" (v. 62)
"tent of Joseph / clan of Ephraim" (v. 67)
The ancestors' ancestors
"their ancestors" (v. 12, 57)
"his [God's] people" (vv. 20, 71)
"Jacob/Israel" (vv. 21, 71)

Egyptians
The Canaanite nations
The Philistines

David
"David" (v. 70)
"his [God's] servant" (v. 70)
Judah (v. 68)

  • The psalmist is identified as Asaph (which may refer to one of the "sons of Asaph"—see the phrase-level note—though not necessarily) begins reciting the psalm in first person singular, before joining the chorus of the community of the righteous in the latest generation.
  • David's flock is identified those who submit to his rule. At the beginning of the psalm this consists of the latest generation, both Asaph('s descendant) and his group as well as the addressee of the psalm (see the notes on accompanying the text table), who are to proclaim the teaching of the psalm, while also receiving it and passing it on to their children. At the end of the psalm, both Jacob, God's people, and Israel, God's inheritance, are marvelously identified with this group as being shepherded by David.
  • YHWH is referred to by a multitude of different divine names, as listed in the participant set, while also characterized as Israel's rock and redeemer (v. 35).
  • As is characteristic of Psalms 78–80 as a whole, the antagonists of the psalm are the community's ancestors.[1] In contrast to the mention of Judah in v. 68, the ancestors are largely referred to by generic names which encapsulate the entire nation, such as "Jacob" and "Israel," or those associated with Shiloh as a locality, such as "Ephraim" and "Joseph." Despite playing the role of antagonist, to which the latest generation should aspire not to be like, a "stubborn and rebellious generation" (v. 8), they also never cease to be YHWH's people (vv. 20, 58; see also the 3ms suffixes in vv. 28, 62-64).
  • The foreign nations play a subservient role of displaying God's miraculous acts for his people throughout their history—primarily in Egypt throughout the Exodus event (vv. 42-53), but also in the conquest of Canaan (v. 54) and the defeat of the Philistines (v. 66). In the latter instance, the vessel of punishment for his people (vv. 60-64) in turn receive their own justice (vv. 65-66).
  • Following the rejection of Joseph/Ephraim (v. 67) as the center of covenant administration, and the choice of Judah and Zion (v. 68), David is further chosen as the shepherd who will lead the renewed community (vv. 70-72).
Hebrew Verse English
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף 1a A maskil. By Asaph.
הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י 1b Listen, my people, to my teaching;
הַטּ֥וּ אָ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ 1c turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י 2a Let me open up my mouth with a parable;
אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃ 2b let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם 3a The things which we heard, and which we learned
וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃ 3b and our ancestors told us,
לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן 4a we will not hide from their children in the latest generation,
מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה 4b proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH
וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃ 4c and his power and his wonderful deeds which he has accomplished:
וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב 5a how he established a testimony among Jacob
וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל 5b and set up a teaching among Israel,
אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ 5c which he commanded our ancestors
לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ 5d to teach them to their children,
לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן 6a so that the latest generation might know
בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ 6b —children who were yet to be born—
יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ 6c [that] they might begin to tell their children
וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם 7a and they might put their trust in God,
וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל 7b [so that] they might not forget God's deeds
וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ 7c but might obey his commands
וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם 8a and might not be like their ancestors,
דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֪ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה 8b a stubborn and rebellious generation,
דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ 8c a generation who did not keep their heart committed
וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃ 8d and whose mind was not faithful to God.
בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת 9a Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers,
הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃ 9b turned back on a day of battle.
לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים 10a They did not keep the covenant of God
וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃ 10b and they refused to walk in his teaching,
וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו 11a in that they forgot his deeds
וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃ 11b and [they forgot] his wonders which he had shown them.
נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא 12a In front of their ancestors he performed miracles
בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ 12b in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan.
בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּֽעֲבִירֵ֑ם 13a He divided the sea and brought them through;
וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃ 13b he made the waters stand like a heap.
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם 14a He led them by cloud during the day
וְכָל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ 14b and [he led them] all night by fire light.
יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר 15a He would split rocks in the wilderness
וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃ 15b and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans.
וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע 16a He would bring streams out from rock
וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃ 16b and make water flow down like rivers.
וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ 17a But again they sinned against him;
לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ 17b again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert.
וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם 18a They put God to the test in their heart,
לִֽשְׁאָל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ 18b by asking for food for their throat.
וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּֽאלֹ֫הִ֥ים 19a They spoke against God
אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל 19b saying: "Is God not able
לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ 19c to prepare a table in the wilderness?
הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ 20a Since he struck a rock so that waters gushed out
וּנְחָלִ֪ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ 20b and streams began to flow,
הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת 20c is he not able to give bread, too?
אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ 20d Or can he not provide meat for his people?"
לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֥ר 21a Therefore, when YHWH heard he became furious;
וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב 21b fire flared up against Jacob
וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 21c and also anger rose against Israel,
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים 22a because they had not believed in God
וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ 22b and they had not trusted in his provision.
וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל 23a So he ordered clouds from above
וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃ 23b and opened heavenly doors;
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל 24a he rained down upon them manna to eat
וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ 24b and he gave them grain from heaven.
לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ 25a People ate bread of angels;
צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ 25b he sent them provisions until they were satisfied.
יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם 26a He caused an east wind to blow in the sky
וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃ 26b and he drove a south wind with his might.
וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר 27a So he made meat rain upon them like dust
וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃ 27b and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore,
וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ 28a and he made them fall inside his camp,
סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ 28b all around his tents.
וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד 29a So they ate and were completely satisfied
וְ֝תַֽאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃ 29b when he brought them what they craved.
לֹא־זָר֥וּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם 30a They had not turned away from the object of their craving
ע֝֗וֹד אָכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ 30b —their food was still in their mouth—
וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם 31a when the anger of God rose against them
וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם 31b and he killed some of their strong men
וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ 31c and he struck down young men of Israel.
בְּכָל־זֹ֭את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד 32a In spite of this, they sinned again
וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ 32b and did not trust in his wonderful deeds,
וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם 33a so he made them spend their days in vain
וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ 33b and [he made them spend] their years in anguish.
אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ 34a Whenever he killed them, then they would seek him
וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃ 34b and again look for God.
וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם 35a They would remember that God was their rock
וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ 35b and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer.
וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם 36a But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth
וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃ 36b and with their tongue were lying to him.
וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ 37a Their heart was not committed to him
וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ 37b and they were not faithful to his covenant.
וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ 38a But he is compassionate.
יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַ֫שְׁחִ֥ית 38b He forgives iniquity and does not destroy.
וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ 38c He repeatedly turned back his anger.
וְלֹֽא־יָ֝עִיר כָּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ 38d And he would not stir up all his wrath.
וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה 39a He remembered that they were flesh,
ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃ 39b a breeze that goes by and will not return.
כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר 40a How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness!
יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃ 40b [How often] did they grieve him in the desert!
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל 41a Again they put God to the test
וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְווּ׃ 41b and they provoked the Holy One of Israel.
לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ 42a They did not remember his strength;
י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃ 42b [they did not remember] the day in which he saved them from an adversary.
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו 43a [They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt
וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ 43b and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan—
וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם 44a how he turned their rivers into blood
וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ 44b and they could not drink [from] their streams.
יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם 45a He sent a swarm of insects among them and it devoured them;
וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ 45b [he sent] a plague of frogs [among them] and it destroyed them.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם 46a He gave their crops to young locusts
וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ 46b and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts.
יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם 47a He killed their vines with hail
וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּֽחֲנָמַֽל׃ 47b and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost.
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם 48a He gave their livestock over to hail
וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ 48b and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning.
יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ 49a He sent among them the wrath of his anger:
עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה 49b fury and indignation and trouble,
מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃ 49c by a deputation of angels bringing disaster.
יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ 50a He cleared a path for his anger;
לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם 50b he did not spare their soul from death
וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃ 50c but gave their life over to plague.
וַיַּ֣ךְ כָּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם 51a He killed every firstborn in Egypt,
רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ 51b the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham,
וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ 52a but he led out his people like a flock
וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ 52b and guided them in the wilderness like a herd.
וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ 53a He led them securely and they were not afraid,
וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃ 53b but the sea covered their enemies.
וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קָדְשׁ֑וֹ 54a He brought them to his holy territory,
הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃ 54b the hill-country which his right hand had acquired.
וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם 55a He drove out nations from their presence
וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה 55b and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement;
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 55c he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places.
וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן 56a But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test,
וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ 56b and they did not observe his testimonies,
וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם 57a but they went astray and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors.
נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃ 57b They became like a slack bow.
וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם 58a They made him angry with their high places of worship
וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ 58b and with their carved images made him jealous.
שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר 59a God heard and he became furious,
וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ 59b so that he completely rejected Israel
וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ 60a and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh,
אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃ 60b the tent which he had set up among mankind.
וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ 61a He gave his strength into captivity
וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃ 61b and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary.
וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ 62a He gave his people over to the sword
וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ 62b and against his inheritance he raged.
בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָֽכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ 63a Fire consumed his young men
וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ 63b and his young women were not sung to.
כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ 64a His priests fell by the sword
וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ 64b and his widows could not mourn.
וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י 65a Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep,
כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃ 65b like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine,
וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר 66a and he struck back his adversaries.
חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ 66b He gave them eternal shame.
וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף 67a But he rejected the tent of Joseph
וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃ 67b and did not choose the clan of Ephraim,
וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה 68a but he chose the clan of Judah,
אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃ 68b Mount Zion which he loves,
וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ 69a and he built his holy place like heaven,
כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ 69b like the earth which he has established forever.
וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ 70a He chose David, his servant,
וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃ 70b and took him from a sheep pen.
מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ 71a From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him
לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ 71b to shepherd Jacob, his people,
וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ 71c and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance.
וַ֭יִּרְעֵם בְתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ 72a He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart
וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃ 72b and with his wise actions he led them.

Participant Relations Diagram

The relationships among the participants may be abstracted and summarized as follows:

Psalm 78 - Participant Analysis Summary.jpg

File:Psalm 78 - PA Mini-Story.jpg

Participant Analysis Summary Distribution

Psalm 78 - Summary Distribution.jpg

  1. ↑ See Ray 2023.