Psalm 78 Speech Act
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Psalm 78/Speech Act
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Psalm 78
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Speech Act Analysis
The Speech Act layer presents the text in terms of what it does, following the findings of Speech Act Theory. It builds on the recognition that there is more to communication than the exchange of propositions. Speech act analysis is particularly important when communicating cross-culturally, and lack of understanding can lead to serious misunderstandings, since the ways languages and cultures perform speech acts varies widely.
For a detailed explanation of our method, see the Speech Act Analysis Creator Guidelines.
Summary Visual
| Speaker | Verses | Macro Speech Acts | Addressee | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asaph | v. 1 A maskil. By Asaph. Listen, my people, to my teaching; turn your ear to the words of my mouth. | COMMITMENT
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The latest generation | |||
| v. 2 Let me open up my mouth with a parable; let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago. | ||||||
| v. 3 The things which we heard, and which we learned and our ancestors told us, | ||||||
| v. 4 we will not hide from their children in the latest generation, proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH and his power and his wonderful deeds which he has accomplished: | ||||||
| v. 5 how he established a testimony among Jacob and set up a teaching among Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, | ||||||
| v. 6 so that the latest generation might know —children who were yet to be born— [that] they might begin to tell their children | ||||||
| v. 7 and they might put their trust in God, [so that] they might not forget God's deeds but might obey his commands | ||||||
| v. 8 and might not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation who did not keep their heart committed and whose mind was not faithful to God. | ||||||
| v. 9 Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers, turned back on a day of battle. | DESCRIPTION OF PROVISION
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| v. 10 They did not keep the covenant of God and they refused to walk in his teaching, | ||||||
| v. 11 in that they forgot his deeds and [they forgot] his wonders which he had shown them. | ||||||
| v. 12 In front of their ancestors he performed miracles in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. | ||||||
| v. 13 He divided the sea and brought them through; he made the waters stand like a heap. | ||||||
| v. 14 He led them by cloud during the day and [he led them] all night by fire light. | ||||||
| v. 15 He would split rocks in the wilderness and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans. | ||||||
| v. 16 He would bring streams out from rock and make water flow down like rivers. | ||||||
| v. 17 But again they sinned against him; again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert. | REPORT & DESCRIPTION
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| v. 18 They put God to the test in their thoughts, by asking for food for their throat. | ||||||
| v. 19 They spoke against God saying: Is God not able to prepare a table in the wilderness? | ||||||
| v. 20 Since he struck a rock so that waters gushed out and streams began to flow, is he not able to give bread, too? Or can he not provide meat for his people? | ||||||
| v. 21 Therefore, when YHWH heard he became furious; fire flared up against Jacob and also anger rose against Israel, | ||||||
| v. 22 because they had not believed in God and they had not trusted in his provision. | ||||||
| v. 23 So he ordered clouds from above and opened heavenly doors; | ||||||
| v. 24 he rained down upon them manna to eat and he gave them grain from heaven. | ||||||
| v. 25 People ate bread of angels; he sent them provisions until they were satisfied. | ||||||
| v. 26 He caused an east wind to blow in the sky and he drove a south wind with his might. | ||||||
| v. 27 So he made meat rain upon them like dust and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore, | ||||||
| v. 28 and he made them fall inside his camp, all around his tents. | ||||||
| v. 29 So they ate and were completely satisfied when he brought them what they craved. | ||||||
| v. 30 They had not turned away from the object of their craving —their food was still in their mouth— | ||||||
| v. 31 when the anger of God rose against them and he killed some of their strong men and he struck down young men of Israel. | ||||||
| v. 32 In spite of this, they sinned again and did not trust in his wonderful deeds, | REPORT & REMINDER
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| v. 33 so he made them spend their days in vain and [he made them spend] their years in anguish. | ||||||
| v. 34 Whenever he killed them, then they would seek him and again look for God. | ||||||
| v. 35 They would remember that God was their rock and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer. | ||||||
| v. 36 But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth and with their tongue were lying to him. | ||||||
| v. 37 Their heart was not committed to him and they were not faithful to his covenant. | ||||||
| v. 38 But he is compassionate. He forgives iniquity and does not destroy. He repeatedly turned back his anger. And he would not stir up all his wrath. | ||||||
| v. 39 He remembered that they were flesh, a breeze that goes by and will not return. | ||||||
| v. 40 How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness! [How often] did they grieve him in the desert! | ||||||
| v. 41 Again they put God to the test and they provoked the Holy One of Israel. | ||||||
| v. 42 They did not remember his strength; [they did not remember] the day in which he saved them from an adversary. | ||||||
| v. 43 [They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan— | ||||||
| v. 44 how he turned their rivers into blood and they could not drink [from] their streams. | DESCRIPTION
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| v. 45 He sent a swarm of insects among them and it devoured them; [he sent] a plague of frogs [among them] and it destroyed them. | ||||||
| v. 46 He gave their crops to young locusts and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts. | ||||||
| v. 47 He killed their vines with hail and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost. | ||||||
| v. 48 He gave their livestock over to hail and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning. | ||||||
| v. 49 He sent among them the wrath of his anger: fury and indignation and trouble, by a deputation of angels bringing disaster. | ||||||
| v. 50 He cleared a path for his anger; he did not spare their soul from death but gave their life over to plague. | ||||||
| v. 51 He killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham, | ||||||
| v. 52 but he led out his people like a flock and guided them in the wilderness like a herd. | ||||||
| v. 53 He led them securely and they were not afraid, but the sea covered their enemies. | ||||||
| v. 54 He brought them to his holy territory, the hill-country which his right hand had acquired. | ||||||
| v. 55 He drove out nations from their presence and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement; he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places. | ||||||
| v. 56 But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test, and they did not observe his testimonies, | REPORT & DESCRIPTION
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| v. 57 but they went astray and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors. They became like a slack bow. | ||||||
| v. 58 They made him angry with their high places of worship and with their carved images made him jealous. | ||||||
| v. 59 God heard and he became furious, so that he completely rejected Israel | ||||||
| v. 60 and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent which he had set up among mankind. | ||||||
| v. 61 He gave his strength into captivity and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary. | ||||||
| v. 62 He gave his people over to the sword and against his inheritance he raged. | ||||||
| v. 63 Fire consumed his young men and his young women were not sung to. | ||||||
| v. 64 His priests fell by the sword and his widows could not mourn. | ||||||
| v. 65 Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep, like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine, | REPORT & EXPLANATION
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| v. 66 and he struck back his adversaries. He gave them eternal shame. | ||||||
| v. 67 But he rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the clan of Ephraim, | ||||||
| v. 68 but he chose the clan of Judah, Mount Zion which he loves, | ||||||
| v. 69 and he built his holy place like heaven, like the earth which he has established forever. | ||||||
| v. 70 He chose David, his servant, and took him from a sheep pen. | ||||||
| v. 71 From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him to shepherd Jacob, his people, and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance. | ||||||
| v. 72 He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart and with his wise actions he led them. | ||||||
Speech Act Analysis Chart
The following chart is scrollable (left/right; up/down).
| Verse | Hebrew | CBC | Sentence type | Illocution (general) | Illocution with context | Macro speech act | Intended perlocution (Think) | Intended perlocution (Feel) | Intended perlocution (Do) |
| Verse number and poetic line | Hebrew text | English translation | Declarative, Imperative, or Interrogative Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type |
Assertive, Directive, Expressive, Commissive, or Declaratory Indirect Speech Act: Mismatch between sentence type and illocution type |
More specific illocution type with paraphrased context | Illocutionary intent (i.e. communicative purpose) of larger sections of discourse These align with the "Speech Act Summary" headings |
What the speaker intends for the address to think | What the speaker intends for the address to feel | What the speaker intends for the address to do |
If an emendation or revocalization is preferred, that emendation or revocalization will be marked in the Hebrew text of all the visuals.
| Emendations/Revocalizations legend | |
|---|---|
| *Emended text* | Emended text, text in which the consonants differ from the consonants of the Masoretic text, is indicated by blue asterisks on either side of the emendation. |
| *Revocalized text* | Revocalized text, text in which only the vowels differ from the vowels of the Masoretic text, is indicated by purple asterisks on either side of the revocalization. |
| Verse | Text (Hebrew) | Text (CBC) | Sentence type | Illocution (general) | Illocution with context | Macro speech act | Intended perlocution (Think) | Intended perlocution (Feel) | Intended perlocution (Do) | Speech Act Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | מַשְׂכִּיל לְאָסָף | A maskil. By Asaph. | Fragment | Assertive | Introducing the psalm's genre and author. | ||||||
| הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי | Listen, my people, to my teaching; | Imperative | Directive | Commanding his people to listen to his teaching. | Commanding his people to listen to his teaching. | Committing to pass on the teaching. | The latest generation will realize that the upcoming discourse is important. | The latest generation will pay attention to the upcoming discourse. | |||
| הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃ | turn your ear to the words of my mouth. | Imperative | Directive | Commanding his people to listen to his words. | |||||||
| 2 | אֶפְתְּחָה בְמָשָׁל פִּי | Let me open up my mouth with a parable; | Imperative | Commissive | Committing to explain the parable. | Committing to pass on the teaching. | The latest generation will recognize that the upcoming discourse requires attention and mental effort, but contains a payoff in the end. | ||||
| אַבִּיעָה חִידוֹת מִנִּי־קֶדֶם׃ | let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago. | Imperative | Commissive | Committing to explain the puzzling problems. | |||||||
| 3 | אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ | The things which we heard, | Declarative | Commissive | Committing to pass on the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH. | ||||||
| וַנֵּדָעֵם | and which we learned | ||||||||||
| וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ׃ | and our ancestors told us, | ||||||||||
| 4 | לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן | we will not hide from their children in the latest generation, | |||||||||
| מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהוָה וֶעֱזוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו | proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH and his power and his wonderful deeds | ||||||||||
| אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃ | which he has accomplished: | ||||||||||
| 5 | וַיָּקֶם עֵדוּת בְּיַעֲקֹב | how he established a testimony among Jacob | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining why the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH should be told and passed on to the present and future generations. | Explaining why they must pass on the teaching. | The latest generation will feel thankful that YHWH has made his deeds and ways known. | ||||
| וְתוֹרָה שָׂם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל | and set up a teaching among Israel, | ||||||||||
| אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ | which he commanded our ancestors | ||||||||||
| לְהוֹדִיעָם לִבְנֵיהֶם׃ | to teach them to their children, | ||||||||||
| 6 | לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן | so that the latest generation might know | |||||||||
| בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ | —children who were yet to be born— | ||||||||||
| יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם׃ | [that] they might begin to tell their children | The latest generation will vigilantly speak of YHWH's faithfulness to their children. | |||||||||
| 7 | וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִים כִּסְלָם | and they might put their trust in God, | The latest generation and their children will put their trust in God. | ||||||||
| וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵל | [so that] they might not forget God's deeds | The latest generation and their children will remember YHWH's deeds. | |||||||||
| וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | but might obey his commands | The latest generation and their children will keep YHWH's commands. | |||||||||
| 8 | וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה דּוֹר | and might not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation | The latest generation and their children will take note of the ancestors' unfaithfulness. | ||||||||
| לֹא־הֵכִין לִבּוֹ | who did not keep their heart committed | ||||||||||
| וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחֽוֹ׃ | and whose mind was not faithful to God. | ||||||||||
| 9 | בְּנֵי־אֶפְרַיִם נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי־קָשֶׁת הָפְכוּ בְּיוֹם קְרָב׃ | Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers, turned back on a day of battle. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' military defeat. | Describing the ancestors' military defeat. | Describing YHWH's miracles and the ancestors' failures. | The latest generation and their children will conclude that the Ephraimites must have been covenantally unfaithful. | The latest generation and their children will feel disappointment in the Ephraimite ancestors. | The latest generation and their children will take pains to not follow the Ephraimites' example. | |
| 10 | לֹא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִית אֱלֹהִים | They did not keep the covenant of God | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' disobedience. | Explaining the ancestors' military defeat. | |||||
| וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ מֵאֲנוּ | and they refused | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' disobedience. | |||||||
| לָלֶכֶת׃ | to walk in his teaching, | ||||||||||
| 11 | וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ עֲלִילוֹתָיו | in that they forgot his deeds | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' forgetfulness. | ||||||
| וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו | and [they forgot] his wonders | ||||||||||
| אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָם׃ | which he had shown them. | ||||||||||
| 12 | נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | In front of their ancestors he performed miracles in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the deeds and wonders YHWH had performed in the presence of the ancestors. | Describing YHWH's deeds and wonders which the ancestors had forgotten. | The latest generation will recognize that YHWH is a trustworthy and faithful God. | The latest generation will feel awe at YHWH's deeds. | |||
| 13 | בָּקַע יָם | He divided the sea | Declarative | Assertive | Recounting how YHWH split the sea. | ||||||
| וַיַּעֲבִירֵם | and brought them through; | Declarative | Assertive | Recounting how YHWH brought the ancestors through the sea. | |||||||
| וַיַּצֶּב־מַיִם כְּמוֹ־נֵד׃ | he made the waters stand like a heap. | Declarative | Assertive | Recounting how YHWH split the sea. | |||||||
| 14 | וַיַּנְחֵם בֶּעָנָן יוֹמָם | He led them by cloud during the day | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH led the ancestors through the wilderness. | ||||||
| וְכָל־הַלַּיְלָה בְּאוֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ | and [he led them] all night by fire light. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH led the ancestors through the wilderness. | |||||||
| 15 | יְבַקַּע צֻרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר | He would split rocks in the wilderness | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH split rocks in the wilderness. | ||||||
| וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמוֹת רַבָּֽה׃ | and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH provides drinking water. | |||||||
| 16 | וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע | He would bring streams out from rock | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH brought streams out from rock. | ||||||
| וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָֽיִם׃ | and make water flow down like rivers. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH make water flow down. | |||||||
| 17 | וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד | But again | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion against the Most High in the desert. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion and YHWH's anger in response to their lack of faith. | The latest generation will feel shock and disappointment that the Ephraimites would continue sinning. | |||
| לַחֲטֹא־לוֹ | they sinned against him; | ||||||||||
| לַמְרוֹת עֶלְיוֹן בַּצִּיָּה׃ | again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert. | ||||||||||
| 18 | וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵל בִּלְבָבָם | They put God to the test in their heart, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors put God to the test. | ||||||
| לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם׃ | by asking for food for their throat. | ||||||||||
| 19 | וַיְדַבְּרוּ בֵּֽאלֹהִים | They spoke against God | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors spoke against God. | The latest generation will conclude that the ancestors were in the wrong to doubt YHWH. | The latest generation will feel frustration and shame at the ancestors' lack of faith. | ||||
| אָמְרוּ | saying: | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors spoke against God. | |||||||
| הֲיוּכַל אֵל | "Is God not able | • "Interrogative" | • "Expressive" | Accusing God of withholding his provision. | Complaining about their lack of food. | ||||||
| לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר׃ | to prepare a table in the wilderness? | ||||||||||
| 20 | הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר | Since he struck a rock | • "Declarative" | • "Expressive" | Appealing to YHWH's previous provision of water. | ||||||
| וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם | so that waters gushed out | • "Declarative" | • "Expressive" | Appealing to YHWH's previous provision of water. | |||||||
| וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ | and streams began to flow, | • "Declarative" | • "Expressive" | Appealing to YHWH's previous provision of water. | |||||||
| הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל | is he not able to give bread, too? | • "Interrogative" | • "Expressive" | Accusing God of withholding his provision. | |||||||
| תֵּת | |||||||||||
| אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ׃ | Or can he not provide meat for his people?" | • "Interrogative" | • "Expressive" | Accusing God of withholding his provision. | |||||||
| 21 | לָכֵן שָׁמַע יְהוָה | Therefore, when YHWH heard | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH heard their complaint. | Reporting YHWH's anger in response to the ancestor's lack of faith. | The latest generation will conclude that YHWH's anger was justified. | ||||
| וַיִּתְעַבָּר | he became furious; | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting YHWH's anger when he heard. | |||||||
| וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב | fire flared up against Jacob | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH's anger rose against Israel. | |||||||
| וְגַם־אַף עָלָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | and also anger rose against Israel, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH's anger rose against Israel. | |||||||
| 22 | כִּי לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִים | because they had not believed in God | |||||||||
| וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ׃ | and they had not trusted in his provision. | ||||||||||
| 23 | וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל | So he ordered clouds from above | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH ordered clouds to provide food. | Describing YHWH's abundant provision. | The latest generation will conclude that YHWH was abundantly generous. | ||||
| וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח׃ | and opened heavenly doors; | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH ordered clouds to provide food. | |||||||
| 24 | וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכֹל | he rained down upon them manna to eat | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH rained down manna. | ||||||
| וּדְגַן־שָׁמַיִם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃ | and he gave them grain from heaven. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH gave the ancestors grain from heaven. | |||||||
| 25 | לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ | People ate bread of angels; | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the ancestors ate the bread. | ||||||
| צֵידָה שָׁלַח לָהֶם לָשֹׂבַע׃ | he sent them provisions until they were satisfied. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH satisfied their hunger. | |||||||
| 26 | יַסַּע קָדִים בַּשָּׁמָיִם | He caused an east wind to blow in the sky | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent wind. | ||||||
| וַיְנַהֵג בְּעֻזּוֹ תֵימָן׃ | and he drove a south wind with his might. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent wind. | |||||||
| 27 | וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר | So he made meat rain upon them like dust | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH rained down meat. | ||||||
| וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף׃ | and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore, | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH rained down meat. | |||||||
| 28 | וַיַּפֵּל בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֵהוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו׃ | and he made them fall inside his camp, all around his tents. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH rained down meat. | ||||||
| 29 | וַיֹּאכְלוּ | So they ate | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the ancestors ate. | ||||||
| וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ מְאֹד | and were completely satisfied | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' satisfaction. | |||||||
| וְתַֽאֲוָתָם יָבִא לָהֶֽם׃ | when he brought them what they craved. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH brought them what they craved. | |||||||
| 30 | לֹא־זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם | They had not turned away from the object of their craving | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' continued obsession with their craving. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | |||||
| עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | —their food was still in their mouth— | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' continued obsession with their craving. | |||||||
| 31 | וְאַף אֱלֹהִים עָלָה בָהֶם | when the anger of God rose against them | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH's anger rose against the ancestors. | Reporting YHWH's anger in response to the ancestor's lack of faith. | The latest generation will conclude that the ancestors deserved their punishment. | ||||
| וַיַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶם | and he killed some of their strong men | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH killed some of the strong men of Israel. | |||||||
| וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ׃ | and he struck down young men of Israel. | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH struck down young men of Israel. | |||||||
| 32 | בְּכָל־זֹאת חָטְאוּ־עוֹד | In spite of this, they sinned again | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion and YHWH's anger in response to their lack of faith. | The latest generation will feel frustration and shame at the ancestors' lack of faith. | |||
| וְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמִינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו׃ | and did not trust in his wonderful deeds, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' lack of trust. | |||||||
| 33 | וַיְכַל־בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם | so he made them spend their days in vain | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the consequences of the ancestor's lack of faith. | Reporting the consequences of the ancestor's lack of faith. | |||||
| וּשְׁנוֹתָם בַּבֶּהָלָה׃ | and [he made them spend] their years in anguish. | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the consequences of the ancestor's lack of faith. | |||||||
| 34 | אִם־הֲרָגָם | Whenever he killed them, | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how the ancestors would seek God. | Explaining the ancestors' pattern of false repentance. | |||||
| וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ | then they would seek him | ||||||||||
| וְשָׁבוּ וְשִׁחֲרוּ־אֵל׃ | and again look for God. | ||||||||||
| 35 | וַיִּזְכְּרוּ | They would remember | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining the ancestors' recognition that God was their rock and redeemer. | ||||||
| כִּי־אֱלֹהִים צוּרָם | that God was their rock | ||||||||||
| וְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָם׃ | and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer. | ||||||||||
| 36 | וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם | But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining the reality of the ancestors' "repentance." | The latest generation will feel shame at the ancestors' false repentance. | |||||
| וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ־לוֹ׃ | and with their tongue were lying to him. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining the reality of the ancestors' "repentance." | |||||||
| 37 | וְלִבָּם לֹא־נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ | Their heart was not committed to him | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining the ancestors' lack of commitment. | ||||||
| וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ בִּבְרִיתוֹ׃ | and they were not faithful to his covenant. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining the ancestors' lack of faithfulness. | |||||||
| 38 | וְהוּא רַחוּם | But he is compassionate. | Declarative | Assertive | Reminding the latest generation that YHWH is compassionate. | Reminding the latest generation of YHWH's attributes. | The latest generation will recognize that YHWH is abundantly patient and gracious. | The latest generation will feel awe at YHWH's attributes and patience. | |||
| יְכַפֵּר עָוֺן | He forgives iniquity | Declarative | Assertive | Reminding the latest generation that YHWH forgives iniquity. | |||||||
| וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית | and does not destroy. | Declarative | Assertive | Reminding the latest generation that YHWH does not destroy. | |||||||
| וְהִרְבָּה | He repeatedly | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH's repeatedly turned back his anger. | Explaining how YHWH's attributes were evident in his dealings with the ancestors. | ||||||
| לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ | turned back his anger. | ||||||||||
| וְלֹֽא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ׃ | And he would not stir up all his wrath. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH would not stir up all his wrath. | The latest generation will know that YHWH had the right to stir up all his wrath. | ||||||
| 39 | וַיִּזְכֹּר | He remembered | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining YHWH's recognition of the ancestors' mortality. | ||||||
| כִּי־בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ | that they were flesh, a breeze | ||||||||||
| הוֹלֵךְ | that goes by | ||||||||||
| וְלֹא יָשׁוּב׃ | and will not return. | ||||||||||
| 40 | כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר | How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness! | Declarative | Expressive | Exclaiming the frequency of the ancestors' rebellion. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | The latest generation will feel frustration and shame at the ancestors' continued rebellion. | ||||
| יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימוֹן׃ | [How often] did they grieve him in the desert! | Declarative | Expressive | Exclaiming the frequency of the ancestors' rebellion. | |||||||
| 41 | וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל | Again they put God to the test | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors put God to the test. | ||||||
| וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְווּ׃ | and they provoked the Holy One of Israel. | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors provoked the Holy One of Israel. | |||||||
| 42 | לֹא־זָכְרוּ אֶת־יָדוֹ | They did not remember his strength; | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' forgetfulness. | ||||||
| יוֹם | [they did not remember] the day | ||||||||||
| אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָם מִנִּי־צָר׃ | in which he saved them from an adversary. | ||||||||||
| 43 | אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם בְּמִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָיו | [They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors forgot YHWH's signs and miracles in Egypt. | ||||||
| וּמוֹפְתָיו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃ | and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan— | ||||||||||
| 44 | וַיַּהֲפֹךְ לְדָם יְאֹרֵיהֶם | how he turned their rivers into blood | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH turned the rivers in Egypt to blood. | Describing the signs and miracles the ancestors had forgotten. | Describing the signs and miracles the ancestors had forgotten. | The latest generation will conclude that YHWH's works of redemption in the Exodus are sufficient to produce lasting faith and faithtulness. | The latest generation will feel awe at YHWH's works of redemption in the Exodus. | ||
| וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיוּן׃ | and they could not drink [from] their streams. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the Egyptians could not drink from their streams. | |||||||
| 45 | יְשַׁלַּח בָּהֶם עָרֹב | He sent a swarm of insects among them | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent a swarm of insects among the Egyptians. | ||||||
| וַיֹּאכְלֵם | and it devoured them; | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the insects devoured the Egyptians. | |||||||
| וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ | [he sent] a plague of frogs [among them] | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent a plague of frogs among the Egyptians. | |||||||
| וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם׃ | and it destroyed them. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the frogs devoured the Egyptians. | |||||||
| 46 | וַיִּתֵּן לֶחָסִיל יְבוּלָם | He gave their crops to young locusts | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH gave the Egyptians' crops to young locusts. | ||||||
| וִיגִיעָם לָאַרְבֶּה׃ | and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH gave the fruit of the Egyptians' labor to locusts. | |||||||
| 47 | יַהֲרֹג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם | He killed their vines with hail | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH killed the Egyptians' vines with hail. | ||||||
| וְשִׁקְמוֹתָם בַּֽחֲנָמַל׃ | and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH killed the Egyptians' sycamore trees with frost. | |||||||
| 48 | וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם | He gave their livestock over to hail | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH gave the Egyptians' livestock over to hail. | ||||||
| וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים׃ | and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH gave the Egyptians' herds over to lightning. | |||||||
| 49 | יְשַׁלַּח־בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים׃ | He sent among them the wrath of his anger: fury and indignation and trouble, by a deputation of angels bringing disaster. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent his anger. | ||||||
| 50 | יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ | He cleared a path for his anger; | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH sent his anger. | ||||||
| לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם | he did not spare their soul from death | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH did not spare the Egyptians. | |||||||
| וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר׃ | but gave their life over to plague. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH did not spare the Egyptians. | |||||||
| 51 | וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אוֹנִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם׃ | He killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham, | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH did not spare the Egyptians. | ||||||
| 52 | וַיַּסַּע כַּצֹּאן עַמּוֹ | but he led out his people like a flock | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH led out his people from Egypt like a flock. | ||||||
| וַיְנַהֲגֵם כַּעֵדֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃ | and guided them in the wilderness like a herd. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH guided his people in the wilderness like a herd. | |||||||
| 53 | וַיַּנְחֵם לָבֶטַח | He led them securely | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH led out his people from Egypt securely. | ||||||
| וְלֹא פָחָדוּ | and they were not afraid, | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' lack of fear. | |||||||
| וְאֶת־אוֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּסָּה הַיָּם׃ | but the sea covered their enemies. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how the sea covered the Egyptians. | |||||||
| 54 | וַיְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹ הַר־ | He brought them to his holy territory, the hill-country | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH brought the ancestors to their promised land. | ||||||
| זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ׃ | which his right hand had acquired. | ||||||||||
| 55 | וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם גּוֹיִם | He drove out nations from their presence | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH drove out nations from before them. | The latest generation will conclude that the people should have learned their lesson by now. | |||||
| וַיַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה | and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement; | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH allotted the nations as their inheritance. | |||||||
| וַיַּשְׁכֵּן בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how he let the ancestors live in the dwelling places of the nations. | |||||||
| 56 | וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן | But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors' put the Most High to the test. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | Reporting the ancestors' continued rebellion. | The latest generation will feel astonishment that the ancestors continued rebelling. | |||
| וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ׃ | and they did not observe his testimonies, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how the ancestors' disobedience. | |||||||
| 57 | וַיִּסֹּגוּ | but they went astray | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' straying. | ||||||
| וַיִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם | and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors. | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the ancestors' unfaithfulness. | |||||||
| נֶהְפְּכוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה׃ | They became like a slack bow. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' covenantal brokenness. | Describing the result of the ancestors' continued rebellion. | The latest generation will conclude that the ancestors were covenantally dysfunctional. | The latest generation will pursue covenant faithfulness. | ||||
| 58 | וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָם | They made him angry with their high places of worship | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' idolatry. | ||||||
| וּבִפְסִילֵיהֶם יַקְנִיאוּהוּ׃ | and with their carved images made him jealous. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing the ancestors' idolatry. | |||||||
| 59 | שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים | God heard | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting how YHWH found out about their idolatry. | Reporting YHWH's anger in response to the ancestor's lack of faith. | The latest generation will know that YHWH's anger is justified. | ||||
| וַיִּתְעַבָּר | and he became furious, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting YHWH's anger in response to the ancestor's lack of faithfulness. | |||||||
| וַיִּמְאַס מְאֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃ | so that he completely rejected Israel | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's rejection of Israel. | Describing the result of YHWH's anger. | ||||||
| 60 | וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ אֹהֶל | and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's abandonment of Shiloh. | ||||||
| שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם׃ | which he had set up among mankind. | ||||||||||
| 61 | וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ | He gave his strength into captivity | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's abandonment of his Ark. | ||||||
| וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ בְיַד־צָר׃ | and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's abandonment of his Ark. | |||||||
| 62 | וַיַּסְגֵּר לַחֶרֶב עַמּוֹ | He gave his people over to the sword | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's abandonment of his people. | ||||||
| וּבְנַחֲלָתוֹ הִתְעַבָּר׃ | and against his inheritance he raged. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing YHWH's rage against his people. | |||||||
| 63 | בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה־אֵשׁ | Fire consumed his young men | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how fire consumed YHWH's young men. | ||||||
| וּבְתוּלֹתָיו לֹא הוּלָּלוּ׃ | and his young women were not sung to. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH's young women were left unmarried. | |||||||
| 64 | כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ | His priests fell by the sword | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH's priests were killed. | ||||||
| וְאַלְמְנֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה׃ | and his widows could not mourn. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how YHWH's widows could not mourn. | |||||||
| 65 | וַיִּקַץ כְּיָשֵׁן אֲדֹנָי כְּגִבּוֹר מִתְרוֹנֵן מִיָּיִן׃ | Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep, like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine, | Declarative | Assertive | Reporting the awakening of YHWH's zeal for his own people. | Reporting YHWH's zeal for his own people. | Reporting YHWH's zeal for his own people. | The latest generation will recognize that YHWH is both terrifying and comforting. | The latest generation will feel awe at YHWH's continued zeal for his own people. | ||
| 66 | וַיַּךְ־צָרָיו אָחוֹר | and he struck back his adversaries. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, struck back his adversaries. | Explaining the result of YHWH's zeal. | |||||
| חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃ | He gave them eternal shame. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, gave his adversaries eternal shame. | |||||||
| 67 | וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף | But he rejected the tent of Joseph | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, rejected the tent of Joseph. | The latest generation will understand that the Ephraimite leadership was inadequate to produce covenant faithfulness. | |||||
| וּֽבְשֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם לֹא בָחָר׃ | and did not choose the clan of Ephraim, | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, did not choose the clan of Ephraim. | |||||||
| 68 | וַיִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אֶת־הַר צִיּוֹן | but he chose the clan of Judah, Mount Zion | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, chose the clan of Judah. | The latest generation will conclude that Judahite leadership will be adequate. | The latest generation will feel hope for the covenant faithfulness of YHWH's people through Judahite leadership. The latest generation will feel love towards Zion, as YHWH also has. |
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| אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב׃ | which he loves, | ||||||||||
| 69 | וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ־רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ | and he built his holy place like heaven, like the earth | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, established Zion. | The latest generation will worship in Zion. | |||||
| יְסָדָהּ לְעוֹלָם׃ | which he has established forever. | The latest generation will feel trust in the perdurance of the Zionic center for worship. | |||||||||
| 70 | וַיִּבְחַר בְּדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ | He chose David, his servant, | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, chose David. | The latest generation will conclude that it is worth becoming part of the people this Davidic king is leading. | The latest generation will feel relief that the puzzling problems introducted at the beginning of the psalm are beginning to be unravelled. | The latest generation will submit to the Davidic leader. | |||
| וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן׃ | and took him from a sheep pen. | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, chose David. | The latest generation will know that David is skilled to shepherd the people, that even the most vulnerable people will be taken care of, and that, with David as undershepherd, the people are not at risk of becoming covenantally dysfunctional. | ||||||
| 71 | מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ | From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him | Declarative | Assertive | Explaining how YHWH, in his zeal, took David to shepherd his people. | ||||||
| לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ | to shepherd Jacob, his people, | ||||||||||
| וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלָתוֹ׃ | and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance. | ||||||||||
| 72 | וַיִּרְעֵם *בְּ*תֹם לְבָבוֹ | He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how David shepherded the people with the integrity of his heart. | Describing the nature of David's leadership. | |||||
| וּבִתְבוּנוֹת כַּפָּיו יַנְחֵם׃ | and with his wise actions he led them. | Declarative | Assertive | Describing how David led the people with wise actions. | |||||||