Psalms 78
78
PSALM 78
Common Meter: 8,6,8,6
Maschil of Asaph.
1Attend, my people, to my law;
thereto give thou an ear;
The words that from my mouth proceed
attentively do hear.
2My mouth shall speak a parable,
and sayings dark of old;
3The same which we have heard and known,
and us our fathers told.
4We also will them not conceal
from their posterity;
Them to the generation
to come declare will we:
The praises of the Lord our God,
and his almighty strength,
The wondrous works that he hath done,
we will shew forth at length.
5His testimony and his law
in Isr'el he did place,
And charg'd our fathers it to show
to their succeeding race;
6That so the race which was to come
might well them learn and know;
And sons unborn, who should arise,
might to their sons them show:
7That they might set their hope in God,
and suffer not to fall
His mighty works out of their mind,
but keep his precepts all:
8And might not, like their fathers, be
a stiff rebellious race;
A race not right in heart; with God
whose sp'rit not stedfast was.
9The sons of Ephraim, who nor bows
nor other arms did lack,
When as the day of battle was,
they faintly turned back.
10They brake God's cov'nant,
and refus'd in his commands to go;
11His works and wonders they forgot,
which he to them did show.
12Things marvellous he brought to pass;
their fathers them beheld
Within the land of Egypt done,
yea, ev'n in Zoan's field.
13By him divided was the sea,
he caus'd them through to pass;
And made the waters so to stand,
as like an heap it was.
14With cloud by day, with light of fire
all night, he did them guide.
15In desert rocks he clave,
and drink, as from great depths, supply'd.
16He from the rock brought streams, like floods
made waters to run down.
17Yet sinning more, in desert they
provok'd the Highest One.
18For in their heart they tempted God,
and, speaking with mistrust,
They greedily did meat require
to satisfy their lust.
19Against the Lord himself they spake,
and, murmuring, said thus,
A table in the wilderness
can God prepare for us?
20Behold, he smote the rock, and thence
came streams and waters great;
But can he give his people bread?
and send them flesh to eat?
21The Lord did hear, and waxed wroth;
so kindled was a flame
'Gainst Jacob, and 'gainst Israel
up indignation came.
22For they believ'd not God, nor trust
in his salvation had;
23Though clouds above he did command,
and heav'n's doors open made,
24And manna rain'd on them,
and gave them corn of heav'n to eat.
25Man angels' food did eat; to them
he to the full sent meat.
26And in the heaven he did cause
an eastern wind to blow;
And by his power he let out
the southern wind to go.
27Then flesh as thick as dust he made
to rain down them among;
And feather'd fowls, like as the sand
which li'th the shore along.
28At his command amidst their camp
these show'rs of flesh down fell,
All round about the tabernacles
and tents where they did dwell.
29So they did eat abundantly,
and had of meat their fill;
For he did give to them what was
their own desire and will.
30They from their lust had not estrang'd
their heart and their desire;
But while the meat was in their mouths,
which they did so require,
31God's wrath upon them came,
and slew the fattest of them all;
So that the choice of Israel,
o'erthrown by death, did fall.
32Yet, notwithstanding of all this,
they sinned still the more;
And though he had great wonders wrought,
believ'd him not therefore:
33Wherefore their days in vanity
he did consume and waste;
And by his wrath their wretched years
away in trouble past.
34But when he slew them, then they did
to seek him shew desire;
Yea, they return'd, and after God
right early did enquire.
35And that the Lord had been their Rock,
they did remember then;
Ev'n that the high almighty God
had their Redeemer been.
36Yet with their mouth they flatter'd him,
and spake but feignedly;
And they unto the God of truth
with their false tongues did lie.
37For though their words were good, their heart
with him was not sincere;
Unstedfast and perfidious
they in his cov'nant were.
38But, full of pity, he forgave
their sin, them did not slay;
Nor stirr'd up all his wrath, but oft
his anger turn'd away.
39For that they were but fading flesh
to mind he did recall;
A wind that passeth soon away,
and not returns at all.
40How often did they him provoke
within the wilderness!
And in the desert did him grieve
with their rebelliousness!
41Yea, turning back, they tempted God,
and limits set upon
Him, who in midst of Isr'el is
the only Holy One.
42They did not call to mind his pow'r,
nor yet the day when he
Deliver'd them out of the hand
of their fierce enemy;
43Nor how great signs in Egypt land
he openly had wrought;
What miracles in Zoan's field
his hand to pass had brought.
44How lakes and rivers ev'ry where
he turned into blood;
So that nor man nor beast could drink
of standing lake or flood.
45He brought among them swarms of flies,
which did them sore annoy;
And divers kinds of filthy frogs
he sent them to destroy.
46He to the caterpillar gave
the fruits of all their soil;
Their labours he deliver'd up
unto the locusts' spoil.
47Their vines with hail, their sycamores
he with the frost did blast:
48Their beasts to hail he gave; their flocks
hot thunderbolts did waste.
49Fierce burning wrath he on them cast,
and indignation strong,
And troubles sore, by sending forth
ill angels them among.
50He to his wrath made way; their soul
from death he did not save;
But over to the pestilence
the lives of them he gave.
51In Egypt land the first-born all
he smote down ev'ry where;
Among the tents of Ham, ev'n these
chief of their strength that were.
52But his own people, like to sheep,
thence to go forth he made;
And he, amidst the wilderness,
them, as a flock, did lead.
53And he them safely on did lead,
so that they did not fear;
Whereas their en'mies by the sea
quite overwhelmed were.
54To borders of his sanctuary
the Lord his people led,
Ev'n to the mount which his right hand
for them had purchased.
55The nations of Canaan,
by his almighty hand,
Before their face he did expel
out of their native land;
Which for inheritance to them
by line he did divide,
And made the tribes of Israel
within their tents abide.
56Yet God most high they did provoke,
and tempted ever still;
And to observe his testimonies
did not incline their will:
57But, like their fathers, turned back,
and dealt unfaithfully:
Aside they turned, like a bow
that shoots deceitfully.
58For they to anger did provoke
him with their places high;
And with their graven images
mov'd him to jealousy.
59When God heard this, he waxed wroth,
and much loath'd Isr'el then:
60So Shiloh's tent he left, the tent
which he had plac'd with men.
61And he his strength delivered
into captivity;
He left his glory in the hand
of his proud enemy.
62His people also he gave o'er
unto the sword's fierce rage:
So sore his wrath inflamed was
against his heritage.
63The fire consum'd their choice young men;
their maids no marriage had;
64And when their priests fell by the sword,
their wives no mourning made.
65But then the Lord arose, as one
that doth from sleep awake;
And like a giant that, by wine
refresh'd, a shout doth make:
66Upon his en'mies' hinder parts
he made his stroke to fall;
And so upon them he did put
a shame perpetual.
67Moreover, he the tabernacle
of Joseph did refuse;
The mighty tribe of Ephraim
he would in no wise chuse:
68But he did chuse Jehudah's tribe
to be the rest above;
And of mount Sion he made choice,
which he so much did love.
69And he his sanctuary built
like to a palace high,
Like to the earth which he did found
to perpetuity.
70Of David, that his servant was,
he also choice did make,
And even from the folds of sheep
was pleased him to take:
71From waiting on the ewes with young,
he brought him forth to feed
Israel, his inheritance,
his people, Jacob's seed.
72So after the integrity
he of his heart them fed;
And by the good skill of his hands
them wisely governed.
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maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society
Psalms 78
78
A New Beginning in Zion and David
1A maskil of Asaph.
I
Attend, my people, to my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth in a parable,#Parable: Hebrew mashal literally refers to some sort of relationship of comparison and can signify a story whose didactic potential becomes clear in the telling, as here in the retrospective examination of the history of Israel. Mt 13:35 cites the verse to explain Jesus’ use of parables.
unfold the puzzling events of the past.#Ps 49:5; Mt 13:35.
3What we have heard and know;
things our ancestors have recounted to us.#Ps 44:2.
4We do not keep them from our children;
we recount them to the next generation,
The praiseworthy deeds of the Lord and his strength,
the wonders that he performed.#Ex 10:2; Dt 4:9; Jb 8:8.
5God made a decree in Jacob,
established a law in Israel:#Ps 147:19; Dt 33:4.
Which he commanded our ancestors,
they were to teach their children;
6That the next generation might come to know,
children yet to be born.#Ps 22:31–32; Dt 4:9; 6:7.
In turn they were to recount them to their children,
7that they too might put their confidence in God,
And not forget God’s deeds,
but keep his commandments.
8They were not to be like their ancestors,
a rebellious and defiant generation,#Dt 31:27; 32:5.
A generation whose heart was not constant,#Ps 95:10.
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9The ranks of Ephraimite archers,#Ephraimite archers: Ephraim was the most important tribe of the Northern Kingdom. Its military defeat (here unspecified) demonstrates its infidelity to God, who otherwise would have protected it.
retreated on the day of battle.
10They did not keep God’s covenant;
they refused to walk according to his law.
11They forgot his deeds,
the wonders that he had shown them.
II
A
12In the sight of their ancestors God did wonders,
in the land of Egypt, the plain of Zoan.#78:12, 43] Zoan: a city on the arm of the Nile, a former capital of Egypt.#Ps 106:7.
13He split the sea and led them across,#Ps 136:13; Ex 14–15.
making the waters stand like walls.#Ex 14:22; 15:8.
14He led them with a cloud by day,
all night with the light of fire.#Ps 105:39; Ex 13:21; Wis 18:3.
15He split rocks in the desert,
gave water to drink, abundant as the deeps of the sea.#Ps 105:41; 114:8; Ex 17:1–7; Nm 20:2–13; Dt 8:15; Wis 11:4; Is 48:21.
16He made streams flow from crags,
caused rivers of water to flow down.
B
17But they went on sinning against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.#Dt 9:7; Ez 20:13.
18They tested God in their hearts,
demanding the food they craved.#Ps 106:14; Ex 16:2–36.
19They spoke against God, and said,
“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?#Ps 23:5.
20True, when he struck the rock,
water gushed forth,
the wadies flooded.
But can he also give bread,
or provide meat to his people?”
C
21The Lord heard and grew angry;#78:21f] Nm 11; Dt 32:22.
fire blazed up against Jacob;
anger flared up against Israel.
22For they did not believe in God,
did not trust in his saving power.
23#On the manna and the quail, see Ex 16 and Nm 11. Unlike Ex 16, here both manna and quail are instruments of punishment, showing that a divine gift can become deadly because of Israel’s apostasy.So he commanded the clouds above;
and opened the doors of heaven.
24God rained manna upon them for food;
grain from heaven he gave them.#Ps 105:40; Ex 16:4, 14; Dt 8:3; Wis 16:20; Jn 6:31.
25Man ate the bread of the angels;#Bread of the angels: the translation “angels” comports with the supernatural origin of the manna, though the Hebrew lechem ‘abbirim is more literally translated as “bread of the strong ones” or “bread of the mighty.” In the context of the manna event, this phrase cannot possibly mean the Israelites or any human being.
food he sent in abundance.
26He stirred up the east wind in the skies;
by his might God brought on the south wind.
27He rained meat upon them like dust,
winged fowl like the sands of the sea,
28They fell down in the midst of their camp,
all round their dwellings.
29They ate and were well filled;
he gave them what they had craved.
30But while they still wanted more,
and the food was still in their mouths,
31God’s anger flared up against them,
and he made a slaughter of their strongest,
laying low the youth of Israel.#Nm 14:29.
32In spite of all this they went on sinning,
they did not believe in his wonders.
D
33God ended their days abruptly,
their years in sudden death.
34When he slew them, they began to seek him;
they again looked for God.#Dt 32:15, 18; Is 26:16.
35They remembered#Remembered: invoked God publicly in worship. Their words were insincere (Ps 78:36). that God was their rock,
God Most High, their redeemer.
36But they deceived him with their mouths,
lied to him with their tongues.
37Their hearts were not constant toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.#Ps 95:10; Is 29:13.
38#God is always ready to forgive and begin anew, as in choosing Zion and David (Ps 78:65–72).But God being compassionate forgave their sin;
he did not utterly destroy them.
Time and again he turned back his anger,
unwilling to unleash all his rage.#Ps 85:4; Ex 32:14; Is 48:9; Ez 20:22.
39He remembered that they were flesh,
a breath that passes on and does not return.
III
A
40How often they rebelled against God in the wilderness,
grieved him in the wasteland.
41Again and again they tested God,
provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42They did not remember his power,
the day he redeemed them from the foe,#Ps 106:21.
43#Ex 7–12 records ten plagues. Here there are six divine attacks upon Egypt; the seventh climactic act is God’s bringing Israel to the holy land.When he performed his signs in Egypt,
his wonders in the plain of Zoan.#78:43f] Ps 105:27–36; 135:9; Ex 7:14–11:10; 12:29–36; Wis 16–18.
44God turned their rivers to blood;
their streams they could not drink.
45He sent swarms of insects that devoured them,#Ex 8:17.
frogs that destroyed them.
46He gave their harvest to the caterpillar,
the fruits of their labor to the locust.
47He killed their vines with hail,#Wis 16:16.
their sycamores with frost.
48He exposed their cattle to plague,
their flocks to pestilence.#Ex 9:3.
49He let loose against them the heat of his anger,
wrath, fury, and distress,
a band of deadly messengers.
50He cleared a path for his anger;
he did not spare them from death,
but delivered their animals to the plague.
51He struck all the firstborn of Egypt,#Ps 105:36; 136:10; Ex 12:29.
the first fruits of their vigor in the tents of Ham.
52Then God led forth his people like sheep,
guided them like a flock through the wilderness.#Ps 77:21.
53He led them on secure and unafraid,
while the sea enveloped their enemies.#Ex 14:26–28.
54And he brought them to his holy mountain,
the hill his right hand had won.#Ex 15:17.
55He drove out the nations before them,
allotted them as their inherited portion,
and settled in their tents the tribes of Israel.
B
56But they tested and rebelled against God Most High,
his decrees they did not observe.
57They turned disloyal, faithless like their ancestors;
they proved false like a slack bow.
58They enraged him with their high places,
and with their idols provoked him#Provoked him: lit., “made him jealous.” to jealous anger.#Dt 32:16, 21.
C
59God heard and grew angry;
he rejected Israel completely.
60He forsook the shrine at Shiloh,#Shiloh: an important shrine in the north prior to Jerusalem. Despite its holy status, it was destroyed (Ps 78:60–64; cf. Jer 7:12, 14).#Jos 18:1; 1 Sm 1:3; Jer 7:12; 26:6.
the tent he set up among human beings.
61He gave up his might into captivity,
his glorious ark into the hands of the foe.#1 Sm 4:11, 22.
62God delivered his people to the sword;
he was enraged against his heritage.
63Fire consumed their young men;
their young women heard no wedding songs.#Dt 32:25; Jer 7:34.
64Their priests fell by the sword;
their widows made no lamentation.
D
65Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a warrior shouting from the effects of wine.
66He put his foes to flight;
everlasting shame he dealt them.
67He rejected the tent of Joseph,
chose not the tribe of Ephraim.
68#78:68, 70] God’s ultimate offer of mercy to the sinful, helpless people is Zion and the Davidic king.God chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion which he loved.#Ps 48:2; 50:2; Lam 2:15.
69He built his shrine like the heavens,
like the earth which he founded forever.
70He chose David his servant,
took him from the sheepfolds.#Ps 89:21; Ez 34:23; 37:24; 2 Chr 6:6.
71From tending ewes God brought him,
to shepherd Jacob, his people,
Israel, his heritage.#1 Sm 16:11–13; 2 Sm 7:8.
72He shepherded them with a pure heart;
with skilled hands he guided them.
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