78:1

מַשְׂכִּיל לְאָסָף הַאֲזִינָה עַמִּי תּוֹרָתִי הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃

Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

78:2

אֶפְתְּחָה בְמָשָׁל פִּי אַבִּיעָה חִידוֹת מִנִּי־קֶדֶם׃

I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old;

²

78:3

אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְנוּ וַנֵּדָעֵם וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ׃

That which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us,

78:4

לֹא נְכַחֵד מִבְּנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן מְסַפְּרִים תְּהִלּוֹת יְהוָה וֶעֱזוּזוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה׃

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. .

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78:5

וַיָּקֶם עֵדוּת בְּיַעֲקֹב וְתוֹרָה שָׂם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לְהוֹדִיעָם לִבְנֵיהֶם׃

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;

78:6

לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ דּוֹר אַחֲרוֹן בָּנִים יִוָּלֵדוּ יָקֻמוּ וִיסַפְּרוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם׃

That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell them to their children,

78:7

וְיָשִׂימוּ בֵאלֹהִים כִּסְלָם וְלֹא יִשְׁכְּחוּ מַעַלְלֵי־אֵל וּמִצְוֺתָיו יִנְצֹרוּ׃

That they might put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;

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78:8

וְלֹא יִהְיוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם דּוֹר סוֹרֵר וּמֹרֶה דּוֹר לֹא־הֵכִין לִבּוֹ וְלֹא־נֶאֶמְנָה אֶת־אֵל רוּחוֹ׃

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.

¹

78:9

בְּנֵי־אֶפְרַיִם נוֹשְׁקֵי רוֹמֵי־קָשֶׁת הָפְכוּ בְּיוֹם קְרָב׃

The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, That turned back in the day of battle.

¹

78:10

לֹא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִית אֱלֹהִים וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ מֵאֲנוּ לָלֶכֶת׃

They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in His law;

78:11

וַיִּשְׁכְּחוּ עֲלִילוֹתָיו וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָם׃

And they forgot His doings, And His wondrous works that He had shown them.

78:12

נֶגֶד אֲבוֹתָם עָשָׂה פֶלֶא בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃

Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

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78:13

בָּקַע יָם וַיַּעֲבִירֵם וַיַּצֶּב־מַיִם כְּמוֹ־נֵד׃

He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters to stand as a heap.

¹

78:14

וַיַּנְחֵם בֶּעָנָן יוֹמָם וְכָל־הַלַּיְלָה בְּאוֹר אֵשׁ׃

By day also He led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.

78:15

יְבַקַּע צֻרִים בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיַּשְׁקְ כִּתְהֹמוֹת רַבָּה׃

He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep.

¹

78:16

וַיּוֹצִא נוֹזְלִים מִסָּלַע וַיּוֹרֶד כַּנְּהָרוֹת מָיִם׃

He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.

¹

78:17

וַיּוֹסִיפוּ עוֹד לַחֲטֹא־לוֹ לַמְרוֹת עֶלְיוֹן בַּצִּיָּה׃

Yet went they on still to sin against Him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.

¹

78:18

וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵל בִּלְבָבָם לִשְׁאָל־אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם׃

And they tried God in their heart By asking food for their craving.

78:19

וַיְדַבְּרוּ בֵּאלֹהִים אָמְרוּ הֲיוּכַל אֵל לַעֲרֹךְ שֻׁלְחָן בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

Yea, they spoke against God; They said 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?

78:20

הֵן הִכָּה־צוּר וַיָּזוּבוּ מַיִם וּנְחָלִים יִשְׁטֹפוּ הֲגַם־לֶחֶם יוּכַל תֵּת אִם־יָכִין שְׁאֵר לְעַמּוֹ׃

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?'

¹

78:21

לָכֵן שָׁמַע יְהוָה וַיִּתְעַבָּר וְאֵשׁ נִשְּׂקָה בְיַעֲקֹב וְגַם־אַף עָלָה בְיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Therefore the LORD heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;

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78:22

כִּי לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ בֵּאלֹהִים וְלֹא בָטְחוּ בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ׃

Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in His salvation.

78:23

וַיְצַו שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל וְדַלְתֵי שָׁמַיִם פָּתָח׃

And He commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;

78:24

וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם מָן לֶאֱכֹל וּדְגַן־שָׁמַיִם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃

And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, And gave them of the corn of heaven.

78:25

לֶחֶם אַבִּירִים אָכַל אִישׁ צֵידָה שָׁלַח לָהֶם לָשֹׂבַע׃

Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full.

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78:26

יַסַּע קָדִים בַּשָּׁמָיִם וַיְנַהֵג בְּעֻזּוֹ תֵימָן׃

He caused the east wind to set forth in heaven; And by His power He brought on the south wind.

¹

78:27

וַיַּמְטֵר עֲלֵיהֶם כֶּעָפָר שְׁאֵר וּכְחוֹל יַמִּים עוֹף כָּנָף׃

He caused flesh also to rain upon them as the dust, And winged fowl as the sand of the seas;

78:28

וַיַּפֵּל בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֵהוּ סָבִיב לְמִשְׁכְּנֹתָיו׃

And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their dwellings.

78:29

וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׂבְּעוּ מְאֹד וְתַאֲוָתָם יָבִא לָהֶם׃

So they did eat, and were well filled; And He gave them that which they craved.

78:30

לֹא־זָרוּ מִתַּאֲוָתָם עוֹד אָכְלָם בְּפִיהֶם׃

They were not estranged from their craving, Their food was yet in their mouths,

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78:31

וְאַף אֱלֹהִים עָלָה בָהֶם וַיַּהֲרֹג בְּמִשְׁמַנֵּיהֶם וּבַחוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הִכְרִיעַ׃

When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the lustieth among them, And smote down the young men of Israel.

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78:32

בְּכָל־זֹאת חָטְאוּ־עוֹד וְלֹא־הֶאֱמִינוּ בְּנִפְלְאוֹתָיו׃

For all this they sinned still, And believed not in His wondrous works.

78:33

וַיְכַל־בַּהֶבֶל יְמֵיהֶם וּשְׁנוֹתָם בַּבֶּהָלָה׃

Therefore He ended their days as a breath, And their years in terror.

78:34

אִם־הֲרָגָם וּדְרָשׁוּהוּ וְשָׁבוּ וְשִׁחֲרוּ־אֵל׃

When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, And turn back and seek God earnestly.

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78:35

וַיִּזְכְּרוּ כִּי־אֱלֹהִים צוּרָם וְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן גֹּאֲלָם׃

And they remembered that God was their Rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.

78:36

וַיְפַתּוּהוּ בְּפִיהֶם וּבִלְשׁוֹנָם יְכַזְּבוּ־לוֹ׃

But they beguiled Him with their mouth, And lied unto Him with their tongue.

78:37

וְלִבָּם לֹא־נָכוֹן עִמּוֹ וְלֹא נֶאֶמְנוּ בִּבְרִיתוֹ׃

For their heart was not stedfast with Him, Neither were they faithful in His covenant.

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78:38

וְהוּא רַחוּם יְכַפֵּר עָוֺן וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ וְלֹא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ׃

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.

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78:39

וַיִּזְכֹּר כִּי־בָשָׂר הֵמָּה רוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ וְלֹא יָשׁוּב׃

So He remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

78:40

כַּמָּה יַמְרוּהוּ בַמִּדְבָּר יַעֲצִיבוּהוּ בִּישִׁימוֹן׃

How oft did they rebel against Him in the wilderness, And grieve Him in the desert!

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78:41

וַיָּשׁוּבוּ וַיְנַסּוּ אֵל וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל הִתְווּ׃

And still again they tried God, And set bounds to the Holy One of Israel.

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78:42

לֹא־זָכְרוּ אֶת־יָדוֹ יוֹם אֲ‍שֶׁר־פָּדָם מִנִּי־צָר׃

They remembered not His hand, Nor the day when He redeemed them from the adversary.

78:43

אֲשֶׁר־שָׂם בְּמִצְרַיִם אֹתוֹתָיו וּמוֹפְתָיו בִּשְׂדֵה־צֹעַן׃

How He set His signs in Egypt, And His wonders in the field of Zoan; .

78:44

וַיַּהֲפֹךְ לְדָם יְאֹרֵיהֶם וְנֹזְלֵיהֶם בַּל־יִשְׁתָּיוּן׃

And turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink their streams.

78:45

יְשַׁלַּח בָּהֶם עָרֹב וַיֹּאכְלֵם וּצְפַרְדֵּעַ וַתַּשְׁחִיתֵם׃

He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.

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78:46

וַיִּתֵּן לֶחָסִיל יְבוּלָם וִיגִיעָם לָאַרְבֶּה׃

He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labour unto the locust.

78:47

יַהֲרֹג בַּבָּרָד גַּפְנָם וְשִׁקְמוֹתָם בַּחֲנָמַל׃

He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.

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78:48

וַיַּסְגֵּר לַבָּרָד בְּעִירָם וּמִקְנֵיהֶם לָרְשָׁפִים׃

He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to fiery bolts.

¹

78:49

יְשַׁלַּח־בָּם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ עֶבְרָה וָזַעַם וְצָרָה מִשְׁלַחַת מַלְאֲכֵי רָעִים׃

He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A sending of messengers of evil.

78:50

יְפַלֵּס נָתִיב לְאַפּוֹ לֹא־חָשַׂךְ מִמָּוֶת נַפְשָׁם וְחַיָּתָם לַדֶּבֶר הִסְגִּיר׃

He levelled a path for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence;

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78:51

וַיַּךְ כָּל־בְּכוֹר בְּמִצְרָיִם רֵאשִׁית אוֹנִים בְּאָהֳלֵי־חָם׃

And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;

78:52

וַיַּסַּע כַּצֹּאן עַמּוֹ וַיְנַהֲגֵם כַּעֵדֶר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

But He made His own people to go forth like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

78:53

וַיַּנְחֵם לָבֶטַח וְלֹא פָחָדוּ וְאֶת־אוֹיְבֵיהֶם כִּסָּה הַיָּם׃

And He led them safely, and they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

78:54

וַיְבִיאֵם אֶל־גְּבוּל קָדְשׁוֹ הַר־זֶה קָנְתָה יְמִינוֹ׃

And He brought them to His holy border, To the mountain, which His right hand had gotten.

78:55

וַיְגָרֶשׁ מִפְּנֵיהֶם גּוֹיִם וַיַּפִּילֵם בְּחֶבֶל נַחֲלָה וַיַּשְׁכֵּן בְּאָהֳלֵיהֶם שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

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.

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78:56

וַיְנַסּוּ וַיַּמְרוּ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים עֶלְיוֹן וְעֵדוֹתָיו לֹא שָׁמָרוּ׃

Yet they tried and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not His testimonies;

¹

78:57

וַיִּסֹּגוּ וַיִּבְגְּדוּ כַּאֲבוֹתָם נֶהְפְּכוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה׃

But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

¹

78:58

וַיַּכְעִיסוּהוּ בְּבָמוֹתָם וּבִפְסִילֵיהֶם יַקְנִיאוּהוּ׃

For they provoked Him with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.

78:59

שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים וַיִּתְעַבָּר וַיִּמְאַס מְאֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל׃

God heard, and was wroth, And He greatly abhorred Israel;

78:60

וַיִּטֹּשׁ מִשְׁכַּן שִׁלוֹ אֹהֶל שִׁכֵּן בָּאָדָם׃

And He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which He had made to dwell among men;

78:61

וַיִּתֵּן לַשְּׁבִי עֻזּוֹ וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ בְיַד־צָר׃

And delivered His strength into captivity, And His glory into the adversary's hand.

¹

78:62

וַיַּסְגֵּר לַחֶרֶב עַמּוֹ וּבְנַחֲלָתוֹ הִתְעַבָּר׃

He gave His people over also unto the sword; And was wroth with His inheritance.

78:63

בַּחוּרָיו אָכְלָה־אֵשׁ וּבְתוּלֹתָיו לֹא הוּלָּלוּ׃

Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.

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78:64

כֹּהֲנָיו בַּחֶרֶב נָפָלוּ וְאַלְמְנֹתָיו לֹא תִבְכֶּינָה׃

Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation. .

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78:65

וַיִּקַץ כְּיָשֵׁן אֲדֹנָי כְּגִבּוֹר מִתְרוֹנֵן מִיָּיִן׃

Then the Lord awaked as one asleep, Like a mighty man recovering from wine.

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78:66

וַיַּךְ־צָרָיו אָחוֹר חֶרְפַּת עוֹלָם נָתַן לָמוֹ׃

And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach.

¹

78:67

וַיִּמְאַס בְּאֹהֶל יוֹסֵף וּבְשֵׁבֶט אֶפְרַיִם לֹא בָחָר׃

Moreover He abhorred the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim;

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78:68

וַיִּבְחַר אֶת־שֵׁבֶט יְהוּדָה אֶת־הַר צִיּוֹן אֲשֶׁר אָהֵב׃

But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which He loved.

78:69

וַיִּבֶן כְּמוֹ־רָמִים מִקְדָּשׁוֹ כְּאֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ לְעוֹלָם׃

And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He hath founded for ever.

¹

78:70

וַיִּבְחַר בְּדָוִד עַבְדּוֹ וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ מִמִּכְלְאֹת צֹאן׃

He chose David also His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;

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78:71

מֵאַחַר עָלוֹת הֱבִיאוֹ לִרְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹב עַמּוֹ וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נַחֲלָתוֹ׃

From following the ewes that give suck He brought him, To be shepherd over Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.

¹

78:72

וַיִּרְעֵם כְּתֹם לְבָבוֹ וּבִתְבוּנוֹת כַּפָּיו יַנְחֵם׃

So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; And lead them by the skilfulness of his hands.