Psalm 78/Text/Base
From Psalms: Layer by Layer
| Hebrew | Line | 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 | they might begin to tell their children |
| וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם | 7a | and they might put their trust in God, |
| וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל | 7b | 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; again |
| לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ | 17b | rebelled against the Most High in the desert. |
| וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם | 18a | They put God to the test in their thoughts, |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | day in which he saved them from an adversary. |
| אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹֽתוֹתָ֑יו | 43a | 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 | a plague of frogs [among them] and it destroyed them. |
| וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם | 46a | He gave their crops to young locusts and |
| וִֽ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ | 46b | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. |