תהילים ע״ח:ס״א
Psalms 78:61
Hebrew
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אׇ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃ אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃ לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃ וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַ֥עַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֢ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃ בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רֽוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃ לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃ וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃ נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃ וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכׇל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃ וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃ וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאׇל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֢ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַ֫בָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּישׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃ וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃ וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃ וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃ לֹא־זָ֥רוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אׇכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ בְּכׇל־זֹ֥את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃ וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃ וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַֽ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־יָ֝עִ֗יר כׇּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּֽי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃ כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּישִׁימֽוֹן׃ וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְוֽוּ׃ לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃ אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּחֲנָמַֽל׃ וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃ יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃ וַיַּ֣ךְ כׇּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאׇהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃ וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃ וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃ וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּאָדָֽם׃ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃ וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃ וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃ וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃ וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמֽוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃ מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱבִ֫יא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃ {פ}
English Translation
A maskil of Asaph.
Give ear, my people, to my teaching,
turn your ear to what I say. I will expound a theme,
hold forth on the lessons of the past— things we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us. We will not withhold them from their children,
telling the coming generation
the praises of GOD and of divine might,
and the wonders performed. [God] established a decree in Jacob,
ordained a teaching in Israel,
charging our ancestors
to make them known to their children, that a future generation might know—
children yet to be born—
and in turn tell their children that they might put their confidence in God,
and not forget God’s great deeds,
but observe the commandments, and not be like their ancestors,
a wayward and defiant generation,
a generation whose heart was inconstant,
whose spirit was not true to God. Like the Ephraimite archers
who played false in the day of battle, they did not keep God’s covenant,
they refused to follow divine instruction; they forgot what was done for them
and the wonders they were shown. [God] performed marvels in the sight of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, the plain of Zoan. [God] split the sea and took them through it—
making the waters stand like a wall. [God] led them with a cloud by day,
and throughout the night by the light of fire. [God] split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as if from the great deep. [God] brought forth streams from a rock
and made them flow down like a river. But they went on sinning,
defying the Most High in the parched land. To test God was in their mind
when they demanded food for themselves. They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a feast in the wilderness? True, [God]a[God] I.e., Moses, acting as God’s agent; cf. Exod. 17.5–6. struck the rock and waters flowed,
streams gushed forth;
but can [God] provide bread
and supply meat for this people?” GOD heard and then raged;
fire broke out against Jacob,
anger flared up at Israel, because they did not put their trust in God,
did not rely on divine deliverance. So [God] commanded the skies above,
opened the doors of heaven and rained manna upon them for food,
giving them heavenly grain. Each person ate a hero’s meal;
they were sent provision in plenty. [God] set the east wind moving in heaven,
and drove the south wind mightily. [God] rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sands of the sea, making them come down inside God’s camp,
around the divine dwelling-place. They ate till they were sated;
they were given what they craved. They had not yet wearied of what they craved,
the food was still in their mouths when God’s anger flared up at them.
[God] slew their sturdiest,
struck down the youth of Israel. Nonetheless, they went on sinning
and had no faith in God’s wonders. Their days were made to end in futility,
their years in sudden death. When stricken,bstricken Lit. “killed.” they returned,
and sought God once again. They remembered that God was their rock,
God Most High, their Redeemer. Yet they deceived [God] with their speech,
and lied with their words. Their hearts were inconstant;
they were untrue to the covenant. But [God], being merciful, forgave iniquity
and would not destroy—
restraining wrath time and again
and not giving full vent to such fury— remembering that they were but flesh,
a passing breath that does not return. How often did they act defiantly in the wilderness,
then cause grief in the wasteland! Again and again they tested God,
vexedcvexed Or “set a limit to.” the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember God’s strength,
or the day they were redeemed from the foe; how [God] displayed signs in Egypt,
and wonders in the plain of Zoan. [God first] turned their rivers into blood—
making their waters undrinkable; then inflicted upon them swarms of insects to devour them,
frogs to destroy them; then gave their crops over to grubs,
their produce to locusts; then killed their vines with hail,
their sycamores with frost;dwith frost Meaning of Heb. uncertain. then gave their beasts over to hail,
their cattle to lightning bolts; and inflicted a burning anger upon them—
wrath, indignation, trouble,
a band of deadly messengers. [God] cleared a path for that anger,
and did not stop short of slaying them,
but gave them over to pestilence. [God] struck every [male] first-born in Egypt,
the first fruits of their vigor in the tents of Ham. God’s own people were set moving like sheep,
driven like a flock in the wilderness. [God] led them in safety; they were unafraid;
as for their enemies, the sea covered them. [God] brought them to the holy realm,erealm Or “hill” with Septuagint and Saadia.
the mountain God’s right hand had acquired. [God] expelled nations before them,
settled the tribes of Israel in their tents,
allotting them their portion by the line.fsettled the tribes of Israel in their tents, / allotting them their portion by the line Clauses transposed for clarity. Yet they defiantly tested God Most High,
and did not observe divine decrees. They fell away, disloyal like their ancestors;
they played false like a treacherous bow. They provoked anger with their high places;
they kindled wrath with their idols. God heard it and was enraged—
utterly rejecting Israel. [God] forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent that had been set among mortals. God’s mightgGod’s might I.e., the Ark; cf. Ps. 132.8. was allowed to go into captivity,
that glory into the hands of the foe. This people was given over to the sword;
God’s very own the object of rage. Fire consumed their young men,
and their maidens remained unwed.hremained unwed Lit. “had no nuptial song.” Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows could not weep. The Sovereign awoke as from sleep—
like a warrior shaking offishaking off Meaning of Heb. uncertain. wine— and beat back all foes,
dealing them lasting disgrace. [God] rejected the clan of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. [God] did choose the tribe of Judah—
Mount Zion, which was beloved— building the Sanctuary like the heavens,
like the earth that [God] established forever. David, God’s servant, was chosen,
and taken from the sheepfolds. He was brought from minding the nursing ewes
to tend the people of Jacob, Israel, God’s very own. He tended them with blameless heart;
with skillful hands he led them.
Give ear, my people, to my teaching,
turn your ear to what I say. I will expound a theme,
hold forth on the lessons of the past— things we have heard and known,
that our ancestors have told us. We will not withhold them from their children,
telling the coming generation
the praises of GOD and of divine might,
and the wonders performed. [God] established a decree in Jacob,
ordained a teaching in Israel,
charging our ancestors
to make them known to their children, that a future generation might know—
children yet to be born—
and in turn tell their children that they might put their confidence in God,
and not forget God’s great deeds,
but observe the commandments, and not be like their ancestors,
a wayward and defiant generation,
a generation whose heart was inconstant,
whose spirit was not true to God. Like the Ephraimite archers
who played false in the day of battle, they did not keep God’s covenant,
they refused to follow divine instruction; they forgot what was done for them
and the wonders they were shown. [God] performed marvels in the sight of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, the plain of Zoan. [God] split the sea and took them through it—
making the waters stand like a wall. [God] led them with a cloud by day,
and throughout the night by the light of fire. [God] split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink as if from the great deep. [God] brought forth streams from a rock
and made them flow down like a river. But they went on sinning,
defying the Most High in the parched land. To test God was in their mind
when they demanded food for themselves. They spoke against God, saying,
“Can God spread a feast in the wilderness? True, [God]a[God] I.e., Moses, acting as God’s agent; cf. Exod. 17.5–6. struck the rock and waters flowed,
streams gushed forth;
but can [God] provide bread
and supply meat for this people?” GOD heard and then raged;
fire broke out against Jacob,
anger flared up at Israel, because they did not put their trust in God,
did not rely on divine deliverance. So [God] commanded the skies above,
opened the doors of heaven and rained manna upon them for food,
giving them heavenly grain. Each person ate a hero’s meal;
they were sent provision in plenty. [God] set the east wind moving in heaven,
and drove the south wind mightily. [God] rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sands of the sea, making them come down inside God’s camp,
around the divine dwelling-place. They ate till they were sated;
they were given what they craved. They had not yet wearied of what they craved,
the food was still in their mouths when God’s anger flared up at them.
[God] slew their sturdiest,
struck down the youth of Israel. Nonetheless, they went on sinning
and had no faith in God’s wonders. Their days were made to end in futility,
their years in sudden death. When stricken,bstricken Lit. “killed.” they returned,
and sought God once again. They remembered that God was their rock,
God Most High, their Redeemer. Yet they deceived [God] with their speech,
and lied with their words. Their hearts were inconstant;
they were untrue to the covenant. But [God], being merciful, forgave iniquity
and would not destroy—
restraining wrath time and again
and not giving full vent to such fury— remembering that they were but flesh,
a passing breath that does not return. How often did they act defiantly in the wilderness,
then cause grief in the wasteland! Again and again they tested God,
vexedcvexed Or “set a limit to.” the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember God’s strength,
or the day they were redeemed from the foe; how [God] displayed signs in Egypt,
and wonders in the plain of Zoan. [God first] turned their rivers into blood—
making their waters undrinkable; then inflicted upon them swarms of insects to devour them,
frogs to destroy them; then gave their crops over to grubs,
their produce to locusts; then killed their vines with hail,
their sycamores with frost;dwith frost Meaning of Heb. uncertain. then gave their beasts over to hail,
their cattle to lightning bolts; and inflicted a burning anger upon them—
wrath, indignation, trouble,
a band of deadly messengers. [God] cleared a path for that anger,
and did not stop short of slaying them,
but gave them over to pestilence. [God] struck every [male] first-born in Egypt,
the first fruits of their vigor in the tents of Ham. God’s own people were set moving like sheep,
driven like a flock in the wilderness. [God] led them in safety; they were unafraid;
as for their enemies, the sea covered them. [God] brought them to the holy realm,erealm Or “hill” with Septuagint and Saadia.
the mountain God’s right hand had acquired. [God] expelled nations before them,
settled the tribes of Israel in their tents,
allotting them their portion by the line.fsettled the tribes of Israel in their tents, / allotting them their portion by the line Clauses transposed for clarity. Yet they defiantly tested God Most High,
and did not observe divine decrees. They fell away, disloyal like their ancestors;
they played false like a treacherous bow. They provoked anger with their high places;
they kindled wrath with their idols. God heard it and was enraged—
utterly rejecting Israel. [God] forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent that had been set among mortals. God’s mightgGod’s might I.e., the Ark; cf. Ps. 132.8. was allowed to go into captivity,
that glory into the hands of the foe. This people was given over to the sword;
God’s very own the object of rage. Fire consumed their young men,
and their maidens remained unwed.hremained unwed Lit. “had no nuptial song.” Their priests fell by the sword,
and their widows could not weep. The Sovereign awoke as from sleep—
like a warrior shaking offishaking off Meaning of Heb. uncertain. wine— and beat back all foes,
dealing them lasting disgrace. [God] rejected the clan of Joseph
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim. [God] did choose the tribe of Judah—
Mount Zion, which was beloved— building the Sanctuary like the heavens,
like the earth that [God] established forever. David, God’s servant, was chosen,
and taken from the sheepfolds. He was brought from minding the nursing ewes
to tend the people of Jacob, Israel, God’s very own. He tended them with blameless heart;
with skillful hands he led them.
About This Text
Source
Psalms
Category
Tanach
Reference
Psalms 78:61
Learn More With These Speakers
Hear shiurim on Tanach from these renowned teachers
Study Psalms Offline
Anywhere, Anytime
Torah Companion gives you access to the complete Jewish library with Hebrew texts, English translations, and commentaries - all available offline.
Free shipping | No monthly fees