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。
诗篇 78
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
追述 神的作為訓誨後世
亞薩的訓誨詩。
78 我的民哪！你們要留心聽我的教訓，
側耳聽我口中的言語。（本節在《馬索拉文本》包括細字標題）
2 我要開口用比喻，
把古時隱祕的事說出來，
3 就是我們所聽過所知道的，
也是我們的列祖告訴我們的，
4 我們不把這些事向他們的子孫隱瞞，
卻要把耶和華應得的讚美、他的能力，
和他所行的奇事，
都向後代的人述說。
5 他在雅各設立法度，
在以色列中制訂律法，
就是他吩咐我們的列祖，
去教訓他們的子孫的，
6 好使後代的人，包括將要出生的兒女，都可以知道；
他們也要起來，告訴他們的子孫，
7 使他們信靠 神，
不忘記 神的作為，
謹守他的誡命；
8 免得他們像他們的列祖，
成了頑梗悖逆的一代，
心不堅定的一代，
他們的心對 神不忠。
9 以法蓮的子孫，雖然備有弓箭，
在爭戰的日子，卻轉身逃走。
10 他們不謹守 神的約，
不肯遵行他的律法。
11 他們忘記了 神的作為，
和他顯給他們看的奇事。
12 他在埃及地，在瑣安的田野，
在他們列祖的眼前，行了奇事。
13 他把海分開，領他們走過去，
又使海水直立像一道堤壩。
14 白日他用雲彩，
夜間他用火光引導他們。
15 他在曠野使磐石裂開，
給他們水喝，多如深淵的水。
16 他使水從磐石中湧出來，
使水好像江河一般流下。
17 但他們仍然犯罪頂撞他，
在乾旱之地仍然悖逆至高者。
18 他們心裡試探 神，
隨著自己的慾望要求食物。
19 他們妄論 神，說：
“ 神可以在曠野擺設筵席嗎？
20 他雖曾擊打磐石，使水湧出來，
好像江河氾濫，
他還能賜糧食嗎？
他還能為自己的子民預備肉食嗎？”
21 因此耶和華聽見了，就大怒；
有烈火在雅各燒起，
有怒氣向以色列發作。
22 因為他們不相信 神，
不倚靠他的拯救。
23 然而，他吩咐天上的雲彩，
打開天上的門戶。
24 他降嗎哪給他們吃，
把天上的食物賜給他們。
25 於是人吃了天使的食物，
是 神賜下的食糧，使他們飽足。
26 他從天空颳起東風，
施能力領出南風。
27 他降肉食給他們，多如塵土；
又降飛鳥給他們，多如海沙。
28 他使飛鳥落在他們的營中，
在他們住處的四圍。
29 他們吃了，而且吃得很飽，
這樣， 神把他們所願的都賜給他們了。
30 他們還沒有因所願的滿足，
食物仍在他們口中的時候，
31 神的怒氣就向他們發作，
殺了他們中間最肥壯的人，
擊倒了以色列的年輕人。
32 雖然經歷了這一切，他們仍然犯罪；
儘管看見這些奇事，他們仍不相信。
33 所以 神使他們的日子在虛空中消逝，
使他們的歲月在驚恐中完結。
34 神擊殺他們的時候，他們就尋求他；
他們回轉過來，切切求問 神。
35 他們也想起 神是他們的磐石，
至高的 神是他們的救贖主。
36 但他們仍然用口欺騙他，
用舌頭向他說謊。
37 他們的心對他不堅定，
也不忠於和他所立的約。
38 他卻有憐憫，赦免罪孽，沒有把他們滅絕，
並且多次抑制自己的怒氣，
沒有完全宣洩他的烈怒。
39 他顧念他們不過是人，
是一陣吹去不再返回的風。
40 他們多少次在曠野悖逆他，
在沙漠使他擔憂；
41 他們再三試探 神，
使以色列的聖者憂傷。
42 他們忘記了他的能力（“他的能力”直譯是“他的手”），
就是他救贖他們脫離敵人的日子，
43 他怎樣在埃及顯神蹟，
在瑣安的田野行奇事。
44 他把他們的江河都變為血，
使他們不能喝河流的水。
45 他使成群的蒼蠅到他們中間來，吞吃他們；
又使青蛙來毀滅他們。
46 他把他們的農產交給蚱蜢，
把他們辛勞的收穫交給蝗蟲。
47 他用冰雹摧毀他們的葡萄樹，
用嚴霜凍壞他們的桑樹。
48 又把他們的牲畜交給冰雹，
把他們的群畜交給閃電。
49 他使猛烈的怒氣、忿怒、憤恨、患難，
好像一群降災的使者，臨到他們中間。
50 他為自己的怒氣修平了路，
不惜使他們死亡，
把他們的性命交給瘟疫。
51 他在埃及擊殺了所有的長子，
在含的帳棚中擊殺了他們強壯時生的頭胎子。
52 他卻把自己的子民領出來好像領羊群，
在曠野引導他們像引導群畜一樣。
53 他帶領他們平平安安地走過去，所以他們不懼怕；
海卻淹沒了他們的仇敵。
54 他領他們進入自己聖地的境界，
到他右手所得的這山地。
55 他在他們面前把外族人趕出去，
用繩子量地，分給他們作為產業，
又使以色列眾支派的人居住在自己的帳棚裡。
56 但他們仍然試探和悖逆至高的 神，
不謹守他的法則。
57 他們背信不忠，像他們的列祖一樣；
他們改變了，如同不可靠的弓。
58 因他們的邱壇，惹起他的怒氣，
因他們雕刻的偶像，激起他的憤恨。
59 神聽見就大怒，
完全棄絕了以色列。
60 他丟棄了在示羅的居所，
就是他在世人中間居住的帳棚。
61 他又把象徵他權能的約櫃交給人擄去，
把他的榮美交在敵人的手裡，
62 並且把自己的子民交給刀劍，
向自己的產業大發烈怒。
63 他們的青年被火吞滅，
他們的少女也聽不見結婚的喜歌。
64 他們的祭司倒在刀下，
他們的寡婦卻不能哀哭。
65 那時主好像從睡眠中醒過來，
如同勇士酒後清醒一樣。
66 他擊退了他的敵人，
使他們永遠蒙羞受辱。
67 他棄絕約瑟的帳棚，
不揀選以法蓮支派，
68 卻揀選了猶大支派，
他所愛的錫安山。
69 他建造了自己的聖所好像在高天之上，
又像他所建立永存的大地。
70 他揀選了自己的僕人大衛，
把他從羊圈中召出來；
71 他領他出來，使他不再跟著那些母羊，
卻要牧養他的子民雅各，
和他的產業以色列。
72 於是大衛以正直的心牧養他們，
靈巧地引導他們。
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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Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
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