Psalm 78
Psalm 78 | |
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"Give ear, O my people, to my law" | |
Other name |
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Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 78 | |
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← Book of Psalms | |
Hebrew Bible part | Ketuvim |
Order in the Hebrew part | 1 |
Category | Sifrei Emet |
Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
Order in the Christian part | 19 |
Psalm 78 is the 78th psalm of the
The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It has been set to music.
Text
Hebrew
The following table shows the Hebrew text[6][7] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).
Verse | Hebrew | English translation (JPS 1917) |
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1 | מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף הַאֲזִ֣ינָה עַ֭מִּי תּוֹרָתִ֑י הַטּ֥וּ אׇ֝זְנְכֶ֗ם לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ | Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. |
2 | אֶפְתְּחָ֣ה בְמָשָׁ֣ל פִּ֑י אַבִּ֥יעָה חִ֝יד֗וֹת מִנִּי־קֶֽדֶם׃ | I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old; |
3 | אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׁ֭מַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵ֑ם וַ֝אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָֽנוּ׃ | That which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us, |
4 | לֹ֤א נְכַחֵ֨ד ׀ מִבְּנֵיהֶ֗ם לְד֥וֹר אַחֲר֗וֹן מְֽ֭סַפְּרִים תְּהִלּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה וֶעֱזוּז֥וֹ וְ֝נִפְלְאֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָֽׂה׃ | We will not hide from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, And His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done. . |
5 | וַיָּ֤קֶם עֵד֨וּת ׀ בְּֽיַעֲקֹ֗ב וְתוֹרָה֮ שָׂ֤ם בְּיִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִ֭וָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵ֑ינוּ לְ֝הוֹדִיעָ֗ם לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; |
6 | לְמַ֤עַן יֵדְע֨וּ ׀ דּ֣וֹר אַ֭חֲרוֹן בָּנִ֣ים יִוָּלֵ֑דוּ יָ֝קֻ֗מוּ וִיסַפְּר֥וּ לִבְנֵיהֶֽם׃ | That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children, |
7 | וְיָשִׂ֥ימוּ בֵאלֹהִ֗ים כִּ֫סְלָ֥ם וְלֹ֣א יִ֭שְׁכְּחוּ מַ֥עַלְלֵי־אֵ֑ל וּמִצְוֺתָ֥יו יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ | That they might put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; |
8 | וְלֹ֤א יִהְי֨וּ ׀ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֗ם דּוֹר֮ סוֹרֵ֢ר וּמֹ֫רֶ֥ה דּ֭וֹר לֹא־הֵכִ֣ין לִבּ֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־נֶאֶמְנָ֖ה אֶת־אֵ֣ל רוּחֽוֹ׃ | And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God. |
9 | בְּֽנֵי־אֶפְרַ֗יִם נוֹשְׁקֵ֥י רֽוֹמֵי־קָ֑שֶׁת הָ֝פְכ֗וּ בְּי֣וֹם קְרָֽב׃ | The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, That turned back in the day of battle. |
10 | לֹ֣א שָׁ֭מְרוּ בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֑ים וּ֝בְתוֹרָת֗וֹ מֵאֲנ֥וּ לָלֶֽכֶת׃ | They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law; |
11 | וַיִּשְׁכְּח֥וּ עֲלִילוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝נִפְלְאוֹתָ֗יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶרְאָֽם׃ | And they forgot His doings, And His wondrous works that He had shown them. |
12 | נֶ֣גֶד אֲ֭בוֹתָם עָ֣שָׂה פֶ֑לֶא בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מִצְרַ֣יִם שְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. |
13 | בָּ֣קַע יָ֭ם וַיַּעֲבִירֵ֑ם וַֽיַּצֶּב־מַ֥יִם כְּמוֹ־נֵֽד׃ | He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters to stand as a heap. |
14 | וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם בֶּעָנָ֣ן יוֹמָ֑ם וְכׇל־הַ֝לַּ֗יְלָה בְּא֣וֹר אֵֽשׁ׃ | By day also He led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire. |
15 | יְבַקַּ֣ע צֻ֭רִים בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַ֝יַּ֗שְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמ֥וֹת רַבָּֽה׃ | He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep. |
16 | וַיּוֹצִ֣א נוֹזְלִ֣ים מִסָּ֑לַע וַיּ֖וֹרֶד כַּנְּהָר֣וֹת מָֽיִם׃ | He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. |
17 | וַיּוֹסִ֣יפוּ ע֭וֹד לַחֲטֹא־ל֑וֹ לַֽמְר֥וֹת עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן בַּצִּיָּֽה׃ | Yet went they on still to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert. |
18 | וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֥ל בִּלְבָבָ֑ם לִֽשְׁאׇל־אֹ֥כֶל לְנַפְשָֽׁם׃ | And they tried God in their heart By asking food for their craving. |
19 | וַֽיְדַבְּר֗וּ בֵּאלֹ֫הִ֥ים אָ֭מְרוּ הֲי֣וּכַל אֵ֑ל לַעֲרֹ֥ךְ שֻׁ֝לְחָ֗ן בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | Yea, they spoke against God; They said 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? |
20 | הֵ֤ן הִכָּה־צ֨וּר ׀ וַיָּז֣וּבוּ מַיִם֮ וּנְחָלִ֢ים יִ֫שְׁטֹ֥פוּ הֲגַם־לֶ֭חֶם י֣וּכַל תֵּ֑ת אִם־יָכִ֖ין שְׁאֵ֣ר לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ | Behold, He smote the rock, that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide flesh for His people?' |
21 | לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֗ה וַֽיִּתְעַ֫בָּ֥ר וְ֭אֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָ֣ה בְיַעֲקֹ֑ב וְגַם־אַ֝֗ף עָלָ֥ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | herefore the LORD heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel; |
22 | כִּ֤י לֹ֣א הֶ֭אֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א בָ֝טְח֗וּ בִּישֽׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ | Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in His salvation. |
23 | וַיְצַ֣ו שְׁחָקִ֣ים מִמָּ֑עַל וְדַלְתֵ֖י שָׁמַ֣יִם פָּתָֽח׃ | And He commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven; |
24 | וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם מָ֣ן לֶאֱכֹ֑ל וּדְגַן־שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ | And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, And gave them of the corn of heaven. |
25 | לֶ֣חֶם אַ֭בִּירִים אָ֣כַל אִ֑ישׁ צֵידָ֬ה שָׁלַ֖ח לָהֶ֣ם לָשֹֽׂבַע׃ | Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full. |
26 | יַסַּ֣ע קָ֭דִים בַּשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְנַהֵ֖ג בְּעֻזּ֣וֹ תֵימָֽן׃ | He caused the east wind to set forth in heaven; And by His power He brought on the south wind. |
27 | וַיַּמְטֵ֬ר עֲלֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּעָפָ֣ר שְׁאֵ֑ר וּֽכְח֥וֹל יַ֝מִּ֗ים ע֣וֹף כָּנָֽף׃ | He caused flesh also to rain upon them as the dust, And winged fowl as the sand of the seas; |
28 | וַ֭יַּפֵּל בְּקֶ֣רֶב מַחֲנֵ֑הוּ סָ֝בִ֗יב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָֽיו׃ | And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings. |
29 | וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׂבְּע֣וּ מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝תַאֲוָתָ֗ם יָבִ֥א לָהֶֽם׃ | So they did eat, and were well filled; And He gave them that which they craved. |
30 | לֹא־זָ֥רוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָ֑ם ע֝֗וֹד אׇכְלָ֥ם בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ | They were not estranged from their craving, Their food was yet in their mouths, |
31 | וְאַ֤ף אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ עָ֘לָ֤ה בָהֶ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶ֑ם וּבַחוּרֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ | When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the lustieth among them, And smote down the young men of Israel. |
32 | בְּכׇל־זֹ֥את חָֽטְאוּ־ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ | For all this they sinned still, And believed not in His wondrous works. |
33 | וַיְכַל־בַּהֶ֥בֶל יְמֵיהֶ֑ם וּ֝שְׁנוֹתָ֗ם בַּבֶּהָלָֽה׃ | Therefore He ended their days as a breath, And their years in terror. |
34 | אִם־הֲרָגָ֥ם וּדְרָשׁ֑וּהוּ וְ֝שָׁ֗בוּ וְשִֽׁחֲרוּ־אֵֽל׃ | When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly. |
35 | וַֽ֭יִּזְכְּרוּ כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֣ים צוּרָ֑ם וְאֵ֥ל עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן גֹּאֲלָֽם׃ | And they remembered that God was their Rock, And the Most High God their redeemer. |
36 | וַיְפַתּ֥וּהוּ בְּפִיהֶ֑ם וּ֝בִלְשׁוֹנָ֗ם יְכַזְּבוּ־לֽוֹ׃ | But they beguiled Him with their mouth, And lied unto Him with their tongue. |
37 | וְ֭לִבָּם לֹא־נָכ֣וֹן עִמּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֶ֝אֶמְנ֗וּ בִּבְרִיתֽוֹ׃ | For their heart was not stedfast with Him, Neither were they faithful in His covenant. |
38 | וְה֤וּא רַח֨וּם ׀ יְכַפֵּ֥ר עָוֺן֮ וְֽלֹא־יַֽ֫שְׁחִ֥ית וְ֭הִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁ֣יב אַפּ֑וֹ וְלֹא־יָ֝עִ֗יר כׇּל־חֲמָתֽוֹ׃ | But He, being full of compassion, forgiveth iniquity, and destroyeth not; Yea, many a time doth He turn His anger away, And doth not stir up all His wrath. |
39 | וַ֭יִּזְכֹּר כִּֽי־בָשָׂ֣ר הֵ֑מָּה ר֥וּחַ ה֝וֹלֵ֗ךְ וְלֹ֣א יָשֽׁוּב׃ | So He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. |
40 | כַּ֭מָּה יַמְר֣וּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּ֑ר יַ֝עֲצִיב֗וּהוּ בִּישִׁימֽוֹן׃ | How oft did they rebel against Him in the wilderness, And grieve Him in the desert! |
41 | וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֵ֑ל וּקְד֖וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל הִתְוֽוּ׃ | And still again they tried God, And set bounds to the Holy One of Israel. |
42 | לֹא־זָכְר֥וּ אֶת־יָד֑וֹ י֝֗וֹם אֲֽשֶׁר־פָּדָ֥ם מִנִּי־צָֽר׃ | They remembered not His hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the adversary. |
43 | אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם בְּ֭מִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָ֑יו וּ֝מוֹפְתָ֗יו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹֽעַן׃ | How He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; . |
44 | וַיַּהֲפֹ֣ךְ לְ֭דָם יְאֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹזְלֵיהֶ֗ם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיֽוּן׃ | And turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink their streams. |
45 | יְשַׁלַּ֬ח בָּהֶ֣ם עָ֭רֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵ֑ם וּ֝צְפַרְדֵּ֗עַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵֽם׃ | He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them. |
46 | וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לֶחָסִ֣יל יְבוּלָ֑ם וִ֝יגִיעָ֗ם לָאַרְבֶּֽה׃ | He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labour unto the locust. |
47 | יַהֲרֹ֣ג בַּבָּרָ֣ד גַּפְנָ֑ם וְ֝שִׁקְמוֹתָ֗ם בַּחֲנָמַֽל׃ | He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost. |
48 | וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַבָּרָ֣ד בְּעִירָ֑ם וּ֝מִקְנֵיהֶ֗ם לָרְשָׁפִֽים׃ | He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to fiery bolts. |
49 | יְשַׁלַּח־בָּ֨ם ׀ חֲר֬וֹן אַפּ֗וֹ עֶבְרָ֣ה וָזַ֣עַם וְצָרָ֑ה מִ֝שְׁלַ֗חַת מַלְאֲכֵ֥י רָעִֽים׃ | He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A sending of messengers of evil. |
50 | יְפַלֵּ֥ס נָתִ֗יב לְאַ֫פּ֥וֹ לֹא־חָשַׂ֣ךְ מִמָּ֣וֶת נַפְשָׁ֑ם וְ֝חַיָּתָ֗ם לַדֶּ֥בֶר הִסְגִּֽיר׃ | He levelled a path for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence; |
51 | וַיַּ֣ךְ כׇּל־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רֵאשִׁ֥ית א֝וֹנִ֗ים בְּאׇהֳלֵי־חָֽם׃ | And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham; |
52 | וַיַּסַּ֣ע כַּצֹּ֣אן עַמּ֑וֹ וַֽיְנַהֲגֵ֥ם כַּ֝עֵ֗דֶר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ | But He made His own people to go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock. |
53 | וַיַּנְחֵ֣ם לָ֭בֶטַח וְלֹ֣א פָחָ֑דוּ וְאֶת־א֝וֹיְבֵיהֶ֗ם כִּסָּ֥ה הַיָּֽם׃ | And He led them safely, and they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies. |
54 | וַ֭יְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּב֣וּל קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ הַר־זֶ֝֗ה קָנְתָ֥ה יְמִינֽוֹ׃ | And He brought them to His holy border, To the mountain, which His right hand had gotten. |
55 | וַיְגָ֤רֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֨ם ׀ גּוֹיִ֗ם וַֽ֭יַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶ֣בֶל נַחֲלָ֑ה וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן בְּ֝אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. |
56 | וַיְנַסּ֣וּ וַ֭יַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִ֣ים עֶלְי֑וֹן וְ֝עֵדוֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א שָׁמָֽרוּ׃ | Yet they tried and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not His testimonies; |
57 | וַיִּסֹּ֣גוּ וַֽ֭יִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָ֑ם נֶ֝הְפְּכ֗וּ כְּקֶ֣שֶׁת רְמִיָּֽה׃ | But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow. |
58 | וַיַּכְעִיס֥וּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָ֑ם וּ֝בִפְסִילֵיהֶ֗ם יַקְנִיאֽוּהוּ׃ | For they provoked Him with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their graven images. |
59 | שָׁמַ֣ע אֱ֭לֹהִים וַֽיִּתְעַבָּ֑ר וַיִּמְאַ֥ס מְ֝אֹ֗ד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | God heard, and was wroth, And He greatly abhorred Israel; |
60 | וַ֭יִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן שִׁל֑וֹ אֹ֝֗הֶל שִׁכֵּ֥ן בָּֽאָדָֽם׃ | And He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which He had made to dwell among men; |
61 | וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לַשְּׁבִ֣י עֻזּ֑וֹ וְֽתִפְאַרְתּ֥וֹ בְיַד־צָֽר׃ | And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the adversary's hand. |
62 | וַיַּסְגֵּ֣ר לַחֶ֣רֶב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְנַחֲלָת֗וֹ הִתְעַבָּֽר׃ | He gave His people over also unto the sword; And was wroth with His inheritance. |
63 | בַּחוּרָ֥יו אָכְלָה־אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃ | Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song. |
64 | כֹּ֭הֲנָיו בַּחֶ֣רֶב נָפָ֑לוּ וְ֝אַלְמְנֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִבְכֶּֽינָה׃ | Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation. . |
65 | וַיִּקַ֖ץ כְּיָשֵׁ֥ן ׀ אֲדֹנָ֑י כְּ֝גִבּ֗וֹר מִתְרוֹנֵ֥ן מִיָּֽיִן׃ | Then the Lord awaked as one asleep, Like a mighty man recovering from wine. |
66 | וַיַּךְ־צָרָ֥יו אָח֑וֹר חֶרְפַּ֥ת ע֝וֹלָ֗ם נָ֣תַן לָֽמוֹ׃ | And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach. |
67 | וַ֭יִּמְאַס בְּאֹ֣הֶל יוֹסֵ֑ף וּֽבְשֵׁ֥בֶט אֶ֝פְרַ֗יִם לֹ֣א בָחָֽר׃ | Moreover He abhorred the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim; |
68 | וַ֭יִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁ֣בֶט יְהוּדָ֑ה אֶֽת־הַ֥ר צִ֝יּ֗וֹן אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהֵֽב׃ | But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which He loved. |
69 | וַיִּ֣בֶן כְּמוֹ־רָ֭מִים מִקְדָּשׁ֑וֹ כְּ֝אֶ֗רֶץ יְסָדָ֥הּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ | And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He hath founded for ever. |
70 | וַ֭יִּבְחַר בְּדָוִ֣ד עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַ֝יִּקָּחֵ֗הוּ מִֽמִּכְלְאֹ֥ת צֹֽאן׃ | He chose David also His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; |
71 | מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱבִ֫יא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַֽעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃ | From following the ewes that give suck He brought him, To be shepherd over Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. |
72 | וַ֭יִּרְעֵם כְּתֹ֣ם לְבָב֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת כַּפָּ֣יו יַנְחֵֽם׃ | So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; And lead them by the skilfulness of his hands. |
King James Version
- Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
- I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
- Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
- We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
- For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
- That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
- That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
- And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
- The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
- They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
- And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
- Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
- He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
- In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
- He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
- He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
- And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
- And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
- Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
- Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
- Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
- Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
- Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
- And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
- Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
- He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
- He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
- And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
- So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
- They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
- The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
- For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
- Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
- When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
- And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
- Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
- For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
- But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
- For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
- How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
- Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
- They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
- How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
- And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
- He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
- He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
- He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
- He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
- He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
- He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
- And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
- But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
- And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
- And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
- He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
- Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
- But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
- For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
- When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
- So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
- And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
- He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
- The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
- Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
- Then the LORD awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
- And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
- Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
- But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
- And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
- He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
- From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
- So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Uses
Judaism
- This psalm is recited on the third through sixth days of Passover in some traditions.[8]
- Verse 36-37 are found in the Foundation of Repentance recited on the eve of Rosh Hashanah.[9]
- Verse 38 (V'hu Rachum) is the first verse of a paragraph by the same name in
- Verse 54 is part of Pirkei Avot Chapter 6, no. 10.[15]
- Verse 61 is part of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.[16]
New Testament
In the New Testament:
Book of Common Prayer
In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the 15th day of the month.[18]
Musical settings
Heinrich Schütz set Psalm 78 in a metred version in German, "Hör, mein Volk, mein Gesetz und Weis", SWV 176, as part of the Becker Psalter, first published in 1628.
See also
- The Exodus
- Ipuwer Papyrus
- Passover
- Plagues of Egypt
- Sources and parallels of the Exodus
- Stations of the Exodus
- Related Torah portions (parashot) telling the Exodus story; Psalm 105
References
- ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter, Psalmus 77 (78). Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine Medievalist.
- ^ Psalm 78: New International Version
- ^ Psalm 78: New King James Version
- ^ Rodd, C. S., 18. Psalms in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), The Oxford Bible Commentary Archived 2017-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, pp. 361, 388
- ^ Psalm 78: NABRE
- ^ "Psalms – Chapter 78". Mechon Mamre.
- ^ "Psalms 78 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
- ^ The Artscroll Tehillim, page 329
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah, page 7
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 62
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 66
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 125
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 155
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 257
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 587
- ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 123
- ^ a b Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 839. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
External links
- Pieces with text from Psalm 78: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 78: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
- Psalm 78 in Hebrew and English, Mechon-mamre
- Text of Psalm 78 according to the 1928 Psalter
- A maskil of Asaph. Attend, my people, to my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. (text and footnotes) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 78 – Learning from God’s Faithfulness to His Rebellious People (text and detailed commentary) enduringword.com
- Psalm 78:1 (introduction and text) Bible study tools
- Psalm 78/ Refrain: O Lord, how glorious are your works. Church of England
- Psalm 78 Bible gateway
- Charles H. Spurgeon: Psalm 78(commentary) spurgeon.org
- Hymns for Psalm 78 hymnary.org