Psalm 78/Text/Clauses

Hebrew	Verse	English
מַשְׂכִּיל לְאָסָף	1.1	A maskil. By Asaph.
הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי	1.2	Listen, my people, to my teaching;
הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃	1.3	turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
אֶפְתְּחָה בְמָשָׁל פִּי	2.1	Let me open up my mouth with a parable;
אַבִּיעָה חִידוֹת מִנִּי־קֶדֶם׃	2.2	let me pour out puzzling problems from long ago.
אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ	3.1	The things which we heard,
וַנֵּדָעֵם	3.2	and which we learned
וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ׃	3.3	and our ancestors told us,
לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן	4.1	we will not hide from their children in the latest generation,
מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהוָה וֶעֱזוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו	4.2	proclaiming the praiseworthy deeds of YHWH and his power and his wonderful deeds
אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃	4.3	which he has accomplished:
וַיָּקֶם עֵדוּת בְּיַעֲקֹב	5.1	how he established a testimony among Jacob
וְתוֹרָה שָׂם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל	5.2	and set up a teaching among Israel,
אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ	5.3	which he commanded our ancestors
לְהוֹדִיעָם לִבְנֵיהֶם׃	5.4	to teach them to their children,
לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן	6.1	so that the latest generation might know
בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ	6.2	—children who were yet to be born—
יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם׃	6.3	[that] they might begin to tell their children
וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵֽאלֹהִים כִּסְלָם	7.1	and they might put their trust in God,
וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַֽעַלְלֵי־אֵל	7.2	[so that] they might not forget God's deeds
וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃	7.3	but might obey his commands
וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה דּוֹר	8.1	and might not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation
לֹא־הֵכִין לִבּוֹ	8.2	who did not keep their heart committed
וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחֽוֹ׃	8.3	and whose mind was not faithful to God.
בְּנֵי־אֶפְרַיִם נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי־קָשֶׁת הָפְכוּ בְּיוֹם קְרָב׃	9.1	Ephraimites, armed [with a bow], archers, turned back on a day of battle.
לֹא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִית אֱלֹהִים	10.1	They did not keep the covenant of God
וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ מֵאֲנוּ	10.2	and they refused
לָלֶכֶת׃	10.3	to walk in his teaching,
וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ עֲלִילוֹתָיו	11.1	in that they forgot his deeds
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו	11.2	and [they forgot] his wonders
אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָם׃	11.3	which he had shown them.
נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃	12.1	In front of their ancestors he performed miracles in the land of Egypt, the region of Zoan.
בָּקַע יָם	13.1	He divided the sea
וַיַּעֲבִירֵם	13.2	and brought them through;
וַיַּצֶּב־מַיִם כְּמוֹ־נֵד׃	13.3	he made the waters stand like a heap.
וַיַּנְחֵם בֶּעָנָן יוֹמָם	14.1	He led them by cloud during the day
וְכָל־הַלַּיְלָה בְּאוֹר אֵֽשׁ׃	14.2	and [he led them] all night by fire light.
יְבַקַּע צֻרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר	15.1	He would split rocks in the wilderness
וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמוֹת רַבָּֽה׃	15.2	and provide drinking water abundantly, as from oceans.
וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע	16.1	He would bring streams out from rock
וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָֽיִם׃	16.2	and make water flow down like rivers.
וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד	17.1	But again
לַחֲטֹא־לוֹ	17.2	they sinned against him;
לַמְרוֹת עֶלְיוֹן בַּצִּיָּה׃	17.3	again they rebelled against the Most High in the desert.
וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵל בִּלְבָבָם	18.1	They put God to the test in their thoughts,
לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם׃	18.2	by asking for food for their throat.
וַיְדַבְּרוּ בֵּֽאלֹהִים	19.1	They spoke against God
אָמְרוּ	19.2	saying:
הֲיוּכַל אֵל	19.3	Is God not able
לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר׃	19.4	to prepare a table in the wilderness?
הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר	20.1	Since he struck a rock
וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם	20.2	so that waters gushed out
וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ	20.3	and streams began to flow,
הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל	20.4	is he not able to give bread, too?
תֵּת	20.5
אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ׃	20.6	Or can he not provide meat for his people?
לָכֵן שָׁמַע יְהוָה	21.1	Therefore, when YHWH heard
וַיִּתְעַבָּר	21.2	he became furious;
וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב	21.3	fire flared up against Jacob
וְגַם־אַף עָלָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃	21.4	and also anger rose against Israel,
כִּי לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִים	22.1	because they had not believed in God
וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ׃	22.2	and they had not trusted in his provision.
וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל	23.1	So he ordered clouds from above
וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח׃	23.2	and opened heavenly doors;
וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכֹל	24.1	he rained down upon them manna to eat
וּדְגַן־שָׁמַיִם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃	24.2	and he gave them grain from heaven.
לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ	25.1	People ate bread of angels;
צֵידָה שָׁלַח לָהֶם לָשֹׂבַע׃	25.2	he sent them provisions until they were satisfied.
יַסַּע קָדִים בַּשָּׁמָיִם	26.1	He caused an east wind to blow in the sky
וַיְנַהֵג בְּעֻזּוֹ תֵימָן׃	26.2	and he drove a south wind with his might.
וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר	27.1	So he made meat rain upon them like dust
וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף׃	27.2	and [he made] winged birds [rain upon them] like the sand on the seashore,
וַיַּפֵּל בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֵהוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו׃	28.1	and he made them fall inside his camp, all around his tents.
וַיֹּאכְלוּ	29.1	So they ate
וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ מְאֹד	29.2	and were completely satisfied
וְתַֽאֲוָתָם יָבִא לָהֶֽם׃	29.3	when he brought them what they craved.
לֹא־זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם	30.1	They had not turned away from the object of their craving
עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃	30.2	—their food was still in their mouth—
וְאַף אֱלֹהִים עָלָה בָהֶם	31.1	when the anger of God rose against them
וַיַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶם	31.2	and he killed some of their strong men
וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ׃	31.3	and he struck down young men of Israel.
בְּכָל־זֹאת חָטְאוּ־עוֹד	32.1	In spite of this, they sinned again
וְלֹֽא־הֶאֱמִינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו׃	32.2	and did not trust in his wonderful deeds,
וַיְכַל־בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם	33.1	so he made them spend their days in vain
וּשְׁנוֹתָם בַּבֶּהָלָה׃	33.2	and [he made them spend] their years in anguish.
אִם־הֲרָגָם	34.1	Whenever he killed them,
וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ	34.2	then they would seek him
וְשָׁבוּ וְשִׁחֲרוּ־אֵל׃	34.3	and again look for God.
וַיִּזְכְּרוּ	35.1	They would remember
כִּי־אֱלֹהִים צוּרָם	35.2	that God was their rock
וְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָם׃	35.3	and [that] God, the Most High, was their redeemer.
וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם	36.1	But they were trying to deceive him with their mouth
וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ־לוֹ׃	36.2	and with their tongue were lying to him.
וְלִבָּם לֹא־נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ	37.1	Their heart was not committed to him
וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ בִּבְרִיתוֹ׃	37.2	and they were not faithful to his covenant.
וְהוּא רַחוּם	38.1	But he is compassionate.
יְכַפֵּר עָוֺן	38.2	He forgives iniquity
וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית	38.3	and does not destroy.
וְהִרְבָּה	38.4	He repeatedly
לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ	38.5	turned back his anger.
וְלֹֽא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ׃	38.6	And he would not stir up all his wrath.
וַיִּזְכֹּר	39.1	He remembered
כִּי־בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ	39.2	that they were flesh, a breeze
הוֹלֵךְ	39.3	that goes by
וְלֹא יָשׁוּב׃	39.4	and will not return.
כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר	40.1	How often did they rebel against him in the wilderness!
יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּֽישִׁימוֹן׃	40.2	[How often] did they grieve him in the desert!
וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל	41.1	Again they put God to the test
וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְווּ׃	41.2	and they provoked the Holy One of Israel.
לֹא־זָכְרוּ אֶת־יָדוֹ	42.1	They did not remember his strength;
יוֹם	42.2	[they did not remember] the day
אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָם מִנִּי־צָר׃	42.3	in which he saved them from an adversary.
אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם בְּמִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָיו	43.1	[They did not remember the day] in which he displayed his signs in Egypt
וּמוֹפְתָיו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃	43.2	and [displayed] his miracles in the region of Zoan—
וַיַּהֲפֹךְ לְדָם יְאֹרֵיהֶם	44.1	how he turned their rivers into blood
וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיוּן׃	44.2	and they could not drink [from] their streams.
יְשַׁלַּח בָּהֶם עָרֹב	45.1	He sent a swarm of insects among them
וַיֹּאכְלֵם	45.2	and it devoured them;
וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ	45.3	[he sent] a plague of frogs [among them]
וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם׃	45.4	and it destroyed them.
וַיִּתֵּן לֶחָסִיל יְבוּלָם	46.1	He gave their crops to young locusts
וִיגִיעָם לָאַרְבֶּה׃	46.2	and [he gave] the fruit of their labor to locusts.
יַהֲרֹג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם	47.1	He killed their vines with hail
וְשִׁקְמוֹתָם בַּֽחֲנָמַל׃	47.2	and [he killed] their sycamore trees with frost.
וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם	48.1	He gave their livestock over to hail
וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים׃	48.2	and [he gave] their herds [over] to lightning.
יְשַׁלַּח־בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים׃	49.1	He sent among them the wrath of his anger: fury and indignation and trouble, by a deputation of angels bringing disaster.
יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ	50.1	He cleared a path for his anger;
לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם	50.2	he did not spare their soul from death
וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר׃	50.3	but gave their life over to plague.
וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אוֹנִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם׃	51.1	He killed every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of strength among the tents of Ham,
וַיַּסַּע כַּצֹּאן עַמּוֹ	52.1	but he led out his people like a flock
וַיְנַהֲגֵם כַּעֵדֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃	52.2	and guided them in the wilderness like a herd.
וַיַּנְחֵם לָבֶטַח	53.1	He led them securely
וְלֹא פָחָדוּ	53.2	and they were not afraid,
וְאֶת־אוֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּסָּה הַיָּם׃	53.3	but the sea covered their enemies.
וַיְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹ הַר־	54.1	He brought them to his holy territory, the hill-country
זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ׃	54.2	which his right hand had acquired.
וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם גּוֹיִם	55.1	He drove out nations from their presence
וַיַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה	55.2	and allotted them as an inheritance by measurement;
וַיַּשְׁכֵּן בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃	55.3	he let the clans of Israel live in their dwelling places.
וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן	56.1	But they rebelliously put God, the Most High, to the test,
וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ׃	56.2	and they did not observe his testimonies,
וַיִּסֹּגוּ	57.1	but they went astray
וַיִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם	57.2	and acted unfaithfully, like their ancestors.
נֶהְפְּכוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה׃	57.3	They became like a slack bow.
וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָם	58.1	They made him angry with their high places of worship
וּבִפְסִילֵיהֶם יַקְנִיאוּהוּ׃	58.2	and with their carved images made him jealous.
שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים	59.1	God heard
וַיִּתְעַבָּר	59.2	and he became furious,
וַיִּמְאַס מְאֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃	59.3	so that he completely rejected Israel
וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ אֹהֶל	60.1	and he abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent
שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם׃	60.2	which he had set up among mankind.
וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ	61.1	He gave his strength into captivity
וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ בְיַד־צָר׃	61.2	and [he gave] his glory into the possession of an adversary.
וַיַּסְגֵּר לַחֶרֶב עַמּוֹ	62.1	He gave his people over to the sword
וּבְנַחֲלָתוֹ הִתְעַבָּר׃	62.2	and against his inheritance he raged.
בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה־אֵשׁ	63.1	Fire consumed his young men
וּבְתוּלֹתָיו לֹא הוּלָּלוּ׃	63.2	and his young women were not sung to.
כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ	64.1	His priests fell by the sword
וְאַלְמְנֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה׃	64.2	and his widows could not mourn.
וַיִּקַץ כְּיָשֵׁן אֲדֹנָי כְּגִבּוֹר מִתְרוֹנֵן מִיָּיִן׃	65.1	Now the Lord arose like one who had been asleep, like a warrior shouting from [the effects of] wine,
וַיַּךְ־צָרָיו אָחוֹר	66.1	and he struck back his adversaries.
חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃	66.2	He gave them eternal shame.
וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף	67.1	But he rejected the tent of Joseph
וּֽבְשֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם לֹא בָחָר׃	67.2	and did not choose the clan of Ephraim,
וַיִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אֶת־הַר צִיּוֹן	68.1	but he chose the clan of Judah, Mount Zion
אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב׃	68.2	which he loves,
וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ־רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ	69.1	and he built his holy place like heaven, like the earth
יְסָדָהּ לְעוֹלָם׃	69.2	which he has established forever.
וַיִּבְחַר בְּדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ	70.1	He chose David, his servant,
וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן׃	70.2	and took him from a sheep pen.
מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ	71.1	From [looking] after nursing animals he brought him
לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ	71.2	to shepherd Jacob, his people,
וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלָתוֹ׃	71.3	and [to shepherd] Israel, his inheritance.
וַיִּרְעֵם *בְּ*תֹם לְבָבוֹ	72.1	He shepherded them with the integrity of his heart
וּבִתְבוּנוֹת כַּפָּיו יַנְחֵם׃	72.2	and with his wise actions he led them.