Psalm 78

Lessons from Israel’s Past

A Maskil of Asaph.(A)

My people, hear my instruction;
listen to what I say.(B)
I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past(C)
things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.(D)
We must not hide them from their children,
but must tell a future generation
the praises of the Lord,
His might, and the wonderful works
He has performed.(E)
He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children(F)
so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children(G)
so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works,
but keep His commands.(H)
Then they would not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.(I)

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Psalm 78

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

My people, hear my teaching;(A)
    listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;(B)
    I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
    things our ancestors have told us.(C)
We will not hide them from their descendants;(D)
    we will tell the next generation(E)
the praiseworthy deeds(F) of the Lord,
    his power, and the wonders(G) he has done.
He decreed statutes(H) for Jacob(I)
    and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
    to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
    even the children yet to be born,(J)
    and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
    and would not forget(K) his deeds
    but would keep his commands.(L)
They would not be like their ancestors(M)
    a stubborn(N) and rebellious(O) generation,
whose hearts were not loyal to God,
    whose spirits were not faithful to him.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 78:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

13 For it was You who created my inward parts;[a]
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.(A)
14 I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.[b][c]
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.(B)
15 My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.(C)
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 139:13 Lit my kidneys
  2. Psalm 139:14 DSS, some LXX mss, Syr, Jer read because You are remarkable and wonderful
  3. Psalm 139:14 Hb obscure

13 For you created my inmost being;(A)
    you knit me together(B) in my mother’s womb.(C)
14 I praise you(D) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,(E)
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made(F) in the secret place,
    when I was woven together(G) in the depths of the earth.(H)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained(I) for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

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