诗篇 78
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
追述 神的作为训诲后世
亚萨的训诲诗。
78 我的民哪！你们要留心听我的教训，
侧耳听我口中的言语。（本节在《马索拉文本》包括细字标题）
2 我要开口用比喻，
把古时隐秘的事说出来，
3 就是我们所听过所知道的，
也是我们的列祖告诉我们的，
4 我们不把这些事向他们的子孙隐瞒，
却要把耶和华应得的赞美、他的能力，
和他所行的奇事，
都向后代的人述说。
5 他在雅各设立法度，
在以色列中制订律法，
就是他吩咐我们的列祖，
去教训他们的子孙的，
6 好使后代的人，包括将要出生的儿女，都可以知道；
他们也要起来，告诉他们的子孙，
7 使他们信靠 神，
不忘记 神的作为，
谨守他的诫命；
8 免得他们像他们的列祖，
成了顽梗悖逆的一代，
心不坚定的一代，
他们的心对 神不忠。
9 以法莲的子孙，虽然备有弓箭，
在争战的日子，却转身逃走。
10 他们不谨守 神的约，
不肯遵行他的律法。
11 他们忘记了 神的作为，
和他显给他们看的奇事。
12 他在埃及地，在琐安的田野，
在他们列祖的眼前，行了奇事。
13 他把海分开，领他们走过去，
又使海水直立像一道堤坝。
14 白日他用云彩，
夜间他用火光引导他们。
15 他在旷野使盘石裂开，
给他们水喝，多如深渊的水。
16 他使水从盘石中涌出来，
使水好象江河一般流下。
17 但他们仍然犯罪顶撞他，
在干旱之地仍然悖逆至高者。
18 他们心里试探 神，
随着自己的欲望要求食物。
19 他们妄论 神，说：
“ 神可以在旷野摆设筵席吗？
20 他虽曾击打盘石，使水涌出来，
好象江河泛滥，
他还能赐粮食吗？
他还能为自己的子民预备肉食吗？”
21 因此耶和华听见了，就大怒；
有烈火在雅各烧起，
有怒气向以色列发作。
22 因为他们不相信 神，
不倚靠他的拯救。
23 然而，他吩咐天上的云彩，
打开天上的门户。
24 他降吗哪给他们吃，
把天上的食物赐给他们。
25 于是人吃了天使的食物，
是 神赐下的食粮，使他们饱足。
26 他从天空刮起东风，
施能力领出南风。
27 他降肉食给他们，多如尘土；
又降飞鸟给他们，多如海沙。
28 他使飞鸟落在他们的营中，
在他们住处的四围。
29 他们吃了，而且吃得很饱，
这样， 神把他们所愿的都赐给他们了。
30 他们还没有因所愿的满足，
食物仍在他们口中的时候，
31 神的怒气就向他们发作，
杀了他们中间最肥壮的人，
击倒了以色列的年轻人。
32 虽然经历了这一切，他们仍然犯罪；
尽管看见这些奇事，他们仍不相信。
33 所以 神使他们的日子在虚空中消逝，
使他们的岁月在惊恐中完结。
34 神击杀他们的时候，他们就寻求他；
他们回转过来，切切求问 神。
35 他们也想起 神是他们的盘石，
至高的 神是他们的救赎主。
36 但他们仍然用口欺骗他，
用舌头向他说谎。
37 他们的心对他不坚定，
也不忠于和他所立的约。
38 他却有怜悯，赦免罪孽，没有把他们灭绝，
并且多次抑制自己的怒气，
没有完全宣泄他的烈怒。
39 他顾念他们不过是人，
是一阵吹去不再返回的风。
40 他们多少次在旷野悖逆他，
在沙漠使他担忧；
41 他们再三试探 神，
使以色列的圣者忧伤。
42 他们忘记了他的能力（“他的能力”直译是“他的手”），
就是他救赎他们脱离敌人的日子，
43 他怎样在埃及显神迹，
在琐安的田野行奇事。
44 他把他们的江河都变为血，
使他们不能喝河流的水。
45 他使成群的苍蝇到他们中间来，吞吃他们；
又使青蛙来毁灭他们。
46 他把他们的农产交给蚱蜢，
把他们辛劳的收获交给蝗虫。
47 他用冰雹摧毁他们的葡萄树，
用严霜冻坏他们的桑树。
48 又把他们的牲畜交给冰雹，
把他们的群畜交给闪电。
49 他使猛烈的怒气、忿怒、愤恨、患难，
好象一群降灾的使者，临到他们中间。
50 他为自己的怒气修平了路，
不惜使他们死亡，
把他们的性命交给瘟疫。
51 他在埃及击杀了所有的长子，
在含的帐棚中击杀了他们强壮时生的头胎子。
52 他却把自己的子民领出来好象领羊群，
在旷野引导他们像引导群畜一样。
53 他带领他们平平安安地走过去，所以他们不惧怕；
海却淹没了他们的仇敌。
54 他领他们进入自己圣地的境界，
到他右手所得的这山地。
55 他在他们面前把外族人赶出去，
用绳子量地，分给他们作为产业，
又使以色列众支派的人居住在自己的帐棚里。
56 但他们仍然试探和悖逆至高的 神，
不谨守他的法则。
57 他们背信不忠，像他们的列祖一样；
他们改变了，如同不可靠的弓。
58 因他们的邱坛，惹起他的怒气，
因他们雕刻的偶像，激起他的愤恨。
59 神听见就大怒，
完全弃绝了以色列。
60 他丢弃了在示罗的居所，
就是他在世人中间居住的帐棚。
61 他又把象征他权能的约柜交给人掳去，
把他的荣美交在敌人的手里，
62 并且把自己的子民交给刀剑，
向自己的产业大发烈怒。
63 他们的青年被火吞灭，
他们的少女也听不见结婚的喜歌。
64 他们的祭司倒在刀下，
他们的寡妇却不能哀哭。
65 那时主好象从睡眠中醒过来，
如同勇士酒后清醒一样。
66 他击退了他的敌人，
使他们永远蒙羞受辱。
67 他弃绝约瑟的帐棚，
不拣选以法莲支派，
68 却拣选了犹大支派，
他所爱的锡安山。
69 他建造了自己的圣所好象在高天之上，
又像他所建立永存的大地。
70 他拣选了自己的仆人大卫，
把他从羊圈中召出来；
71 他领他出来，使他不再跟着那些母羊，
却要牧养他的子民雅各，
和他的产业以色列。
72 于是大卫以正直的心牧养他们，
灵巧地引导他们。
詩篇 78
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
上帝引導祂的子民
亞薩的訓誨詩。
78 我的百姓啊！
你們要聽我的教導，
側耳傾聽我的話。
2 我要開口講比喻，
道出古時的奧秘，
3 是我們所聞所知、世代流傳下來的事。
4 我們不要在子孫面前隱瞞事實，
要把耶和華當受稱頌的作為、
祂的權能和所行的奇事告訴下一代。
5 因為祂為雅各制定法度，
為以色列設立律法，
又吩咐我們的祖先把這些律法傳給兒女，
6 好讓他們也照樣教導自己的子孫後代，
世代相傳。
7 這樣，他們就會信靠上帝，
遵行祂的命令，
不忘記祂的作為；
8 也不會像自己的祖先那樣頑梗叛逆，
對上帝不忠，心懷二意。
9 以法蓮人備上了弓箭，
卻臨陣逃命。
10 他們不遵守上帝的約，
拒絕遵行祂的律法。
11 他們忘記了祂的作為，
忘記了祂為他們所行的奇事。
12 祂曾在埃及，在瑣安當著他們祖先的面行神蹟。
13 祂把海水分開，
帶領他們安然渡過；
祂使海水堆起如牆壁。
14 祂白天以雲柱帶領他們，
晚上用火柱引導他們。
15 祂在曠野劈開磐石，
供應他們豐沛的水源。
16 祂使水從磐石中滾滾流出，
如滔滔江河。
17 然而，他們仍舊犯罪，
在曠野反叛至高的上帝。
18 他們頑梗地試探上帝，
索要他們想吃的食物。
19 他們抱怨上帝，說：
「難道上帝可以在曠野擺宴席嗎？
20 祂擊打磐石，
水就湧出，流淌成河，
但祂能賜給我們——祂的子民食物和肉嗎？」
21 耶和華聽後大怒，
祂的怒火燒向雅各，
祂的怒氣撒向以色列。
22 因為他們不相信上帝，也不信靠祂的拯救。
23 祂向穹蒼發出命令，
又打開天門，
24 降下嗎哪給他們吃，賜下天糧。
25 他們吃了天使的食物，
上帝賜給他們豐富的食物。
26 祂使空中颳起東風，
用大能引來南風，
27 使飛鳥像雨點一般降在他們當中，多如塵埃，
使他們有多如海沙的肉吃。
28 祂使飛鳥降落在他們營中的帳篷周圍，
29 讓他們盡情地吃，
遂了他們的心願。
30 但是，他們還沒有吃完，
肉還在口中的時候，
31 上帝就向他們發怒，
殺掉了他們當中最強壯的，
消滅了以色列的青年。
32 即使如此，
他們依舊犯罪，
不相信上帝奇妙的作為。
33 所以上帝使他們虛度一生，
讓他們的歲月充滿恐懼。
34 直到上帝擊殺他們的時候，
他們才回轉，誠心尋求上帝。
35 他們才想起上帝是他們的磐石，
至高的上帝是他們的救贖主。
36 他們卻虛情假意，滿口謊言。
37 他們不忠於祂，
也不信守祂的約。
38 但上帝充滿憐憫，
赦免了他們的罪，
沒有毀滅他們。
祂多次收住怒氣，
沒有完全發出祂的烈怒。
39 祂顧念他們不過是血肉之軀，
像一陣風轉眼消逝。
40 他們在曠野屢屢反叛祂，
使祂傷心。
41 他們再三試探上帝，
惹以色列的聖者發怒。
42 他們忘記了祂的大能，
忘記了祂救他們脫離壓迫的日子，
43 也忘記了祂在埃及所行的神蹟，
在瑣安的田野所行的奇事。
44 祂曾使江河溪流變成血，
以致無人能喝。
45 祂曾使成群的蒼蠅吞沒他們，
使青蛙毀滅他們。
46 祂將他們的五穀賞給蚱蜢，
讓蝗蟲吃盡他們的收成。
47 祂用冰雹毀壞他們的葡萄樹，
用嚴霜毀壞他們的無花果樹，
48 又用冰雹毀滅他們的牛群，
用閃電毀滅他們的牲畜。
49 祂把怒火、烈怒、憤恨和禍患傾倒在他們身上，
遣下一群降災的天使。
50 祂的怒氣盡發，
使他們被瘟疫吞噬，難逃一死。
51 祂擊殺了埃及人所有的長子，
就是含帳篷中頭生的兒子。
52 祂領出自己的子民，
好像領出羊群，
引領他們經過曠野，
53 使他們一路平安，免受驚嚇，
大海卻淹沒了他們的仇敵。
54 祂帶領自己的子民來到聖地的邊界，
來到祂親手為他們預備的山區，
55 從他們面前趕出外族人，
把外族人的土地分給他們，
作為他們的產業，
使以色列各支派安頓下來。
56 可是，他們仍舊試探上帝，
反叛至高者，不遵行祂的法度。
57 他們跟祖先一樣背信棄義，
像斷弓一樣毫不可靠。
58 他們建造邱壇，惹祂發怒；
他們豎起神像，令祂憤怒。
59 上帝知道了他們的惡行，
怒不可遏，
徹底棄絕了以色列人。
60 祂離棄了設在示羅的聖幕，
就是祂在人間的居所。
61 祂任憑自己的約櫃被人擄去，
讓自己的榮耀落在敵人手中。
62 祂使自己的子民被刀劍殺戮，
向自己的產業大發怒氣。
63 青年被烈火吞噬，
少女無法婚嫁。
64 祭司喪身刀下，
寡婦無法哭喪。
65 那時，主像從睡眠中醒來，
又如酒後醒來的勇士。
66 祂擊退仇敵，
叫他們永遠蒙羞。
67 祂丟棄了約瑟的子孫，
沒有揀選以法蓮支派。
68 祂揀選了猶大支派，
祂所喜愛的錫安山。
69 祂為自己建造高聳的聖所，
使它像大地一樣長存。
70 祂揀選了祂的僕人大衛，
把他從羊圈中召來，
71 讓他離開牧羊的生活，
去牧養祂的子民雅各的後裔，
牧養祂的產業以色列。
72 於是，大衛以正直的心牧養他們，
用靈巧的手帶領他們。
Psalm 78
New English Translation
Psalm 78[a]
A well-written song[b] by Asaph.
78 Pay attention, my people, to my instruction.
Listen to the words I speak.[c]
2 I will sing a song that imparts wisdom;
I will make insightful observations about the past.[d]
3 What we have heard and learned[e]—
that which our ancestors[f] have told us—
4 we will not hide from their[g] descendants.
We will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,[h]
about his strength and the amazing things he has done.
5 He established a rule[i] in Jacob;
he set up a law in Israel.
He commanded our ancestors
to make his deeds known to their descendants,[j]
6 so that the next generation, children yet to be born,
might know about them.
They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.[k]
7 Then they will place their confidence in God.
They will not forget the works of God,
and they will obey[l] his commands.
8 Then they will not be like their ancestors,
who were a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that was not committed
and faithful to God.[m]
9 The Ephraimites[n] were armed with bows,[o]
but they retreated in the day of battle.[p]
10 They did not keep their covenant with God,[q]
and they refused to obey[r] his law.
11 They forgot what he had done,[s]
the amazing things he had shown them.
12 He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.[t]
13 He divided the sea and led them across it;
he made the water stand in a heap.
14 He led them with a cloud by day,
and with the light of a fire all night long.
15 He broke open rocks in the wilderness,
and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.[u]
16 He caused streams to flow from the rock,
and made the water flow like rivers.
17 Yet they continued to sin against him,
and rebelled against the Most High[v] in the desert.
18 They willfully challenged God[w]
by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
19 They insulted God, saying,[x]
“Is God really able to give us food[y] in the wilderness?
20 Yes,[z] he struck a rock and water flowed out;
streams gushed forth.
But can he also give us food?
Will he provide meat for his people?”
21 When[aa] the Lord heard this, he was furious.
A fire broke out against Jacob,
and his anger flared up[ab] against Israel,
22 because they did not have faith in God,
and did not trust his ability to deliver them.[ac]
23 He gave a command to the clouds above,
and opened the doors in the sky.
24 He rained down manna for them to eat;
he gave them the grain of heaven.[ad]
25 Man ate the food of the mighty ones.[ae]
He sent them more than enough to eat.[af]
26 He brought the east wind through the sky,
and by his strength led forth the south wind.
27 He rained down meat on them like dust,
birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.[ag]
28 He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp,
all around their homes.
29 They ate until they were beyond full;[ah]
he gave them what they desired.
30 They were not yet filled up;[ai]
their food was still in their mouths,
31 when the anger of God flared up against them.
He killed some of the strongest of them;
he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.
32 Despite all this, they continued to sin,
and did not trust him to do amazing things.[aj]
33 So he caused them to die unsatisfied[ak]
and filled with terror.[al]
34 When he struck them down,[am] they sought his favor;[an]
they turned back and longed for God.
35 They remembered that God was their protector,[ao]
and that God Most High[ap] was their deliverer.[aq]
36 But they deceived him with their words,[ar]
and lied to him.[as]
37 They were not really committed to him,[at]
and they were unfaithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he is compassionate.
He forgives sin and does not destroy.
He often holds back his anger,
and does not stir up his fury.[au]
39 He remembered[av] that they were made of flesh,
and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.[aw]
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness,
and insulted him[ax] in the wastelands.
41 They again challenged God,[ay]
and offended[az] the Holy One of Israel.[ba]
42 They did not remember what he had done,[bb]
how he delivered them from the enemy,[bc]
43 when he performed his awesome deeds[bd] in Egypt,
and his acts of judgment[be] in the region of Zoan.
44 He turned their rivers into blood,
and they could not drink from their streams.
45 He sent swarms of biting insects against them,[bf]
as well as frogs that overran their land.[bg]
46 He gave their crops to the grasshopper,
the fruit of their labor to the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail,
and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.
48 He rained hail down on their cattle,[bh]
and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.[bi]
49 His raging anger lashed out against them.[bj]
He sent fury, rage, and trouble
as messengers who bring disaster.[bk]
50 He sent his anger in full force.[bl]
He did not spare them from death;
he handed their lives over to destruction.[bm]
51 He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt,
the firstfruits of their reproductive power[bn] in the tents of Ham.
52 Yet he brought out his people like sheep;
he led them through the wilderness like a flock.
53 He guided them safely along, and they were not afraid;
but the sea covered their enemies.
54 He brought them to the border of his holy land,
to this mountainous land[bo] that his right hand[bp] acquired.
55 He drove the nations out from before them;
he assigned them their tribal allotments[bq]
and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.[br]
56 Yet they challenged and defied[bs] God Most High,[bt]
and did not obey[bu] his commands.[bv]
57 They were unfaithful[bw] and acted as treacherously as[bx] their ancestors;
they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.[by]
58 They made him angry with their pagan shrines,[bz]
and made him jealous with their idols.
59 God heard and was angry;
he completely rejected Israel.
60 He abandoned[ca] the sanctuary at Shiloh,
the tent where he lived among men.
61 He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured;[cb]
he gave the symbol of his splendor[cc] into the hand of the enemy.[cd]
62 He delivered his people over to the sword,
and was angry with his chosen nation.[ce]
63 Fire consumed their[cf] young men,
and their[cg] virgins remained unmarried.[ch]
64 Their[ci] priests fell by the sword,
but their[cj] widows did not weep.[ck]
65 But then the Lord awoke from his sleep;[cl]
he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.[cm]
66 He drove his enemies back;
he made them a permanent target for insults.[cn]
67 He rejected the tent of Joseph;
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68 He chose the tribe of Judah
and Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above,[co]
as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.[cp]
70 He chose David, his servant,
and took him from the sheepfolds.
71 He took him away from following the mother sheep,[cq]
and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people,
and of Israel, his chosen nation.[cr]
72 David[cs] cared for them with pure motives;[ct]
he led them with skill.[cu]
Footnotes
- Psalm 78:1 sn Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.
- Psalm 78:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 74.
- Psalm 78:1 tn Heb “Turn your ear to the words of my mouth.”
- Psalm 78:2 tn Heb “I will open with a wise saying my mouth, I will utter insightful sayings from long ago.” Elsewhere the Hebrew word pair חִידָה + מָשָׁל (mashal + khidah) refers to a taunt song (Hab 2:6), a parable (Ezek 17:2), proverbial sayings (Prov 1:6), and an insightful song that reflects on the mortality of humankind and the ultimate inability of riches to prevent death (Ps 49:4).
- Psalm 78:3 tn Or “known.”
- Psalm 78:3 tn Heb “fathers” (also in vv. 5, 8, 12, 57).
- Psalm 78:4 tn The pronominal suffix refers back to the “fathers” (“our ancestors,” v. 3).
- Psalm 78:4 tn Heb “to a following generation telling the praises of the Lord.” “Praises” stand by metonymy for the mighty acts that prompt worship. Cf. Ps 9:14.
- Psalm 78:5 tn The Hebrew noun עֵדוּת (ʿedut) refers here to God’s command that the older generation teach their children about God’s mighty deeds in the nation’s history (see Exod 10:2; Deut 4:9; 6:20-25).
- Psalm 78:5 tn Heb “which he commanded our fathers to make them known to their sons.” The plural suffix “them” probably refers back to the Lord’s mighty deeds (see vv. 3-4).
- Psalm 78:6 tn Heb “in order that they might know, a following generation, sons [who] will be born, they will arise and will tell to their sons.”
- Psalm 78:7 tn Heb “keep.”
- Psalm 78:8 tn Heb “a generation that did not make firm its heart and whose spirit was not faithful with God.” The expression “make firm the heart” means “to be committed, devoted” (see 1 Sam 7:3).
- Psalm 78:9 tn Heb “the sons of Ephraim.” Ephraim probably stands here by synecdoche (part for whole) for the northern kingdom of Israel.
- Psalm 78:9 tn Heb “ones armed, shooters of bow.” It is possible that the term נוֹשְׁקֵי (nosheqey, “ones armed [with]”) is an interpretive gloss for the rare רוֹמֵי (rome, “shooters of”; on the latter see BDB 941 s.v. I רָמָה). The phrase נוֹשְׁקֵי קֶשֶׁת (nosheqe qeshet, “ones armed with a bow”) appears in 1 Chr 12:2; 2 Chr 17:17.
- Psalm 78:9 sn They retreated. This could refer to the northern tribes’ failure to conquer completely their allotted territory (see Judg 1), or it could refer generally to the typical consequence (military defeat) of their sin (see vv. 10-11).
- Psalm 78:10 tn Heb “the covenant of God.”
- Psalm 78:10 tn Heb “walk in.”
- Psalm 78:11 tn Heb “his deeds.”
- Psalm 78:12 sn The region of Zoan was located in the Egyptian delta, where the enslaved Israelites lived (see Num 13:22; Isa 19:11, 13; 30:4; Ezek 30:14).
- Psalm 78:15 tn Heb “and caused them to drink, like the depths, abundantly.”
- Psalm 78:17 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
- Psalm 78:18 tn Heb “and they tested God in their heart.” The “heart” is viewed here as the center of their volition.
- Psalm 78:19 tn Heb “they spoke against God, they said.”
- Psalm 78:19 tn Heb “to arrange a table [for food].”
- Psalm 78:20 tn Heb “look.”
- Psalm 78:21 tn Heb “therefore.”
- Psalm 78:21 tn Heb “and also anger went up.”
- Psalm 78:22 tn Heb “and they did not trust his deliverance.”
- Psalm 78:24 sn Manna was apparently shaped like a seed (Exod 16:31), perhaps explaining why it is here compared to grain.
- Psalm 78:25 sn Because of the reference to “heaven” in the preceding verse, it is likely that mighty ones refers here to the angels of heaven. The LXX translates “angels” here, as do a number of modern translations (NEB, NIV, NRSV).
- Psalm 78:25 tn Heb “provision he sent to them to satisfaction.”
- Psalm 78:27 tn Heb “and like the sand of the seas winged birds.”
- Psalm 78:29 tn Heb “and they ate and were extremely filled.” The verb שָׂבַע (savaʿ, “be satisfied, full”) is often used of eating and/or drinking one’s fill, to have had fully enough and want no more. See BDB 959 s.v. שָׂבַע. In some cases it means to have had more than enough of something (cf. Prov 25:17; Isa 1:11). Here the use of מְאֹד (meʾod, “very”) and the context of the account indicate they felt filled beyond capacity.
- Psalm 78:30 tn Heb “they were not separated from their desire.”
- Psalm 78:32 tn Heb “and did not believe in his amazing deeds.”
- Psalm 78:33 tn Heb “and he ended in vanity their days.”
- Psalm 78:33 tn Heb “and their years in terror.”
- Psalm 78:34 tn Or “killed them,” that is, killed large numbers of them.
- Psalm 78:34 tn Heb “they sought him.”
- Psalm 78:35 tn Heb “my high rocky summit.”
- Psalm 78:35 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
- Psalm 78:35 tn Heb “redeemer”
- Psalm 78:36 tn Heb “with their mouth.”
- Psalm 78:36 tn Heb “and with their tongue they lied to him.”
- Psalm 78:37 tn Heb “and their heart was not firm with him.”
- Psalm 78:38 tn One could translate v. 38 in the past tense (“he was compassionate…forgave sin and did not destroy…held back his anger, and did not stir up his fury”), but the imperfect verbal forms are probably best understood as generalizing. Verse 38 steps back briefly from the narrational summary of Israel’s history and lays the theological basis for v. 39, which focuses on God’s mercy toward sinful Israel.
- Psalm 78:39 tn The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive signals a return to the narrative.
- Psalm 78:39 tn Heb “and he remembered that they [were] flesh, a wind [that] goes and does not return.”
- Psalm 78:40 tn Or “caused him pain.”
- Psalm 78:41 tn Heb “and they returned and tested God.” The Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv, “to return”) is used here in an adverbial sense to indicate that an earlier action was repeated.
- Psalm 78:41 tn Or “wounded, hurt.” The verb occurs only here in the OT.
- Psalm 78:41 sn The basic sense of the word “holy” is “set apart from that which is commonplace, special, unique.” The Lord’s holiness is first and foremost his transcendent sovereignty as the ruler of the world. He is “set apart” from the world over which he rules. At the same time his holiness encompasses his moral authority, which derives from his royal position. As king he has the right to dictate to his subjects how they are to live; indeed his very own character sets the standard for proper behavior. This expression is a common title for the Lord in the book of Isaiah.
- Psalm 78:42 tn Heb “his hand,” symbolizing his saving activity and strength, as the next line makes clear.
- Psalm 78:42 tn Heb “[the] day [in] which he ransomed them from [the] enemy.”
- Psalm 78:43 tn Or “signs” (see Ps 65:8).
- Psalm 78:43 tn Or “portents, omens” (see Ps 71:7). The Egyptian plagues are referred to here (see vv. 44-51).
- Psalm 78:45 tn Heb “and he sent an insect swarm against them and it devoured them.”
- Psalm 78:45 tn Heb “and a swarm of frogs and it destroyed them.”
- Psalm 78:48 tn Heb “and he turned over to the hail their cattle.”
- Psalm 78:48 tn Heb “and their livestock to the flames.” “Flames” here refer to the lightning bolts that accompanied the storm.
- Psalm 78:49 tn Heb “he sent against them the rage of his anger.” The phrase “rage of his anger” employs an appositional genitive. Synonyms are joined in a construct relationship to emphasize the single idea. For a detailed discussion of the grammatical point with numerous examples, see Y. Avishur, “Pairs of Synonymous Words in the Construct State (and in Appositional Hendiadys) in Biblical Hebrew,” Semitics 2 (1971): 17-81.
- Psalm 78:49 tn Heb “fury and indignation and trouble, a sending of messengers of disaster.”
- Psalm 78:50 tn Heb “he leveled a path for his anger.” There were no obstacles to impede its progress; it moved swiftly and destructively.
- Psalm 78:50 tn Or perhaps “[the] plague.”
- Psalm 78:51 tn Heb “the beginning of strength.” If retained, the plural form אוֹנִים (ʾonim, “strength”) probably indicates degree (“great strength”), but many ancient witnesses read “their strength,” which presupposes an emendation to אֹנָם (ʾonam; singular form of the noun with third masculine plural pronominal suffix).
- Psalm 78:54 tn Heb “this mountain.” The whole land of Canaan seems to be referred to here. In Exod 15:17 the promised land is called the “mountain of your [i.e., God’s] inheritance.”
- Psalm 78:54 tn The “right hand” here symbolizes God’s military strength (see v. 55).
- Psalm 78:55 tn Heb “he caused to fall [to] them with a measuring line an inheritance.”
- Psalm 78:55 tn Heb “and caused the tribes of Israel to settle down in their tents.”
- Psalm 78:56 tn Or “tested and rebelled against.”
- Psalm 78:56 sn The divine title “Most High” (עֶלְיוֹן ʿelyon) pictures God as the exalted ruler of the universe who vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked. See especially Pss 7:17; 9:2; 18:13; 21:7; 47:2.
- Psalm 78:56 tn Or “keep.”
- Psalm 78:56 tn Heb “his testimonies” (see Ps 25:10).
- Psalm 78:57 tn Heb “they turned back.”
- Psalm 78:57 tn Or “acted treacherously like.”
- Psalm 78:57 tn Heb “they turned aside like a deceitful bow.”
- Psalm 78:58 tn Traditionally, “high places.”
- Psalm 78:60 tn Or “rejected.”
- Psalm 78:61 tn Heb “and he gave to captivity his strength.” The expression “his strength” refers metonymically to the ark of the covenant, which was housed in the tabernacle at Shiloh.
- Psalm 78:61 tn Heb “and his splendor into the hand of an enemy.” The expression “his splendor” also refers metonymically to the ark of the covenant.
- Psalm 78:61 sn Verses 60-61 refer to the Philistines’ capture of the ark in the days of Eli (1 Sam 4:1-11).
- Psalm 78:62 tn Heb “his inheritance.”
- Psalm 78:63 tn Heb “his.” The singular pronominal suffix is collective, referring back to God’s “people” (v. 62).
- Psalm 78:63 tn Heb “his.” The singular pronominal suffix is collective, referring back to God’s “people” (v. 62).
- Psalm 78:63 tn Heb “were not praised,” that is, in wedding songs. The young men died in masses, leaving no husbands for the young women.
- Psalm 78:64 tn Heb “his.” The singular pronominal suffix is collective, referring back to God’s “people” (v. 62).
- Psalm 78:64 tn Heb “his.” The singular pronominal suffix is collective, referring back to God’s “people” (v. 62).
- Psalm 78:64 sn Because of the invading army and the ensuing panic, the priests’ widows had no time to carry out the normal mourning rites.
- Psalm 78:65 tn Heb “and the master awoke like one sleeping.” The Lord’s apparent inactivity during the time of judgment is compared to sleep.
- Psalm 78:65 tn Heb “like a warrior overcome with wine.” The Hebrew verb רוּן (run, “overcome”) occurs only here in the OT. The phrase “overcome with wine” could picture a drunken warrior controlled by his emotions and passions (as in the present translation), or it could refer to a warrior who awakes from a drunken stupor.
- Psalm 78:66 tn Heb “a permanent reproach he made them.”
- Psalm 78:69 tc Heb “and he built like the exalting [ones] his sanctuary.” The phrase כְּמוֹ־רָמִים (kemo ramim, “like the exalting [ones]”) is a poetic form of the comparative preposition followed by a participial form of the verb רוּם (rum, “be exalted”). The text should be emended to כִּמְרֹמִים (kimromim, “like the [heavenly] heights”). See Ps 148:1, where “heights” refers to the heavens above.
- Psalm 78:69 tn Heb “like the earth, [which] he established permanently.” The feminine singular suffix on the Hebrew verb יָסַד (yasad, “to establish”) refers to the grammatically feminine noun “earth.”
- Psalm 78:71 tn Heb “from after the ewes he brought him.”
- Psalm 78:71 tn Heb “to shepherd Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.”
- Psalm 78:72 tn Heb “He”; the referent (David, God’s chosen king, mentioned in v. 70) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Psalm 78:72 tn Heb “and he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart.”
- Psalm 78:72 tn Heb “and with the understanding of his hands he led them.”
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